# Common Leopard Gecko (*Eublepharis macularius*) The Common Leopard Gecko is a small, colorful lizard that loves to explore! They have beautiful spots and can change colors to blend in with their surroundings. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Desert ![Common Leopard Gecko](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eublepharis_macularius1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Matt Reinbold, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eublepharis_macularius1.jpg) ## Appearance The Common Leopard Gecko has granular skin with a distinctive pattern of dark spots, bands, or blotches on a yellow, orange, or white background. It has large, expressive eyes with vertical pupils and movable eyelids, unlike many other geckos. Its thick tail can store fat. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Eublepharidae - **Genus:** Eublepharis ## Interesting facts - Leopard Geckos can grow a new tail if they lose one, though it might look different! - Their gender can be determined by the temperature of their eggs during incubation! - These lizards eat their own shed skin to get back valuable nutrients! - Unlike many geckos, they don't have sticky toe pads and walk on claws. ## Special abilities - **Self-Sacrifice Tail:** Common Leopard Geckos can drop their tail if grabbed by a predator, because it can wiggle, distracting attackers. - **Fat Storage System:** Common Leopard Geckos have a thick tail that stores fat, helping them survive during times of food scarcity. - **Night Vision Master:** Common Leopard Geckos can see very well in low light, helping them hunt insects during the nighttime. - **Blinky Eyes:** Common Leopard Geckos have movable eyelids, unlike many geckos, that help them keep their eyes clean. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-25 cm - **Weight:** 0.045-0.1 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Clutch Size:** 1-2 - **Incubation:** 35-70 days ## Diet & Feeding These small lizards hunt and eat all sorts of insects and other tiny creatures at night. - **Primary Foods:** Crickets, Mealworms, Grasshoppers, Beetles, Spiders - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Two-spotted Cricket (*Gryllus bimaculatus*) — Main prey item for wild leopard geckos, caught by ambush. - **Hunts:** Mealworm (*Tenebrio molitor*) — Larvae of the darkling beetle are often consumed by geckos. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Nocturnal mammals like foxes can prey on geckos in their habitat. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Thermoregulating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thermoregulating): Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash your hands after touching a lizard and be gentle if you hold one. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Leopard Gecko? Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Common Leopard Gecko? 20-25 cm ### How much does Common Leopard Gecko weigh? 0.045-0.1 kg ### How long does Common Leopard Gecko live? 10-20 years ### What does Common Leopard Gecko eat? These small lizards hunt and eat all sorts of insects and other tiny creatures at night. ### Where is Common Leopard Gecko usually found? Desert ### How does Common Leopard Gecko hunt? Ambush ### How many eggs does Common Leopard Gecko lay? 1-2 ## Where to spot - [Mitchell Nutter Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mitchell-nutter-park) — Florida, US · Park ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Common Leopard Gecko: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-leopard-gecko)