# Kotschy's Gecko (*Mediodactylus kotschyi*) Kotschy's Gecko is a small, colorful lizard that loves to climb on rocks and trees. It has a special ability to change color to blend in with its surroundings, making it a master of hide-and-seek in nature! - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Rocky areas ![Kotschy's Gecko](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Benny_Trapp_Mediodactylus_kotschyi_Peloponnes.jpg&width=800) Photo: Benny Trapp, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Benny_Trapp_Mediodactylus_kotschyi_Peloponnes.jpg) ## Appearance The Kotschy's Gecko is a slender lizard with a flattened body, typically grey, brown, or yellowish. It often has darker W-shaped markings or blotches along its back. Its underside is usually a pale whitish color, contrasting with its patterned top. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Gekkonidae - **Genus:** Mediodactylus ## Interesting facts - Even without a tail, a Kotschy's Gecko can grow a new one! - These geckos have no eyelids, so they lick their eyes clean! - They love sunny rocks, but can also live inside old buildings! - This gecko often chirps and squeaks, almost like a tiny bird! ## Special abilities - **Wall-Climber:** Kotschy's Gecko can scale vertical surfaces thanks to tiny claws and specialized toe pads, helping them hunt and escape predators. - **Tail Escape:** Kotschy's Gecko has a tail that can break off and wriggle when grabbed, allowing them to escape danger while the predator is distracted. - **Color Change Artist:** Kotschy's Gecko can lighten or darken its skin to blend with its surroundings, which helps them hide from watchful predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 8-12 cm - **Weight:** 0.002-0.005 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-2 - **Incubation:** 45-90 days ## Diet & Feeding These geckos are tiny hunters that eat small bugs and spiders found in their dry habitats. - **Primary Foods:** small beetles, moths, spiders, ants, crickets - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Caspian Whipsnake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/caspian-whipsnake) (*Hierophis caspius*) — A fast snake that preys on small lizards like geckos. - **Eaten by:** Eurasian Scops Owl (*Otus scops*) — A small nocturnal owl that hunts insects and small vertebrates. - **Eats:** Mealworm Beetle (*Tenebrio molitor*) — This gecko actively hunts and consumes small insects and their larvae. ## Traits - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [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. - [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 watch geckos from a distance and don't try to touch them, as they can be shy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Kotschy's 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 Kotschy's Gecko? 8-12 cm ### How much does Kotschy's Gecko weigh? 0.002-0.005 kg ### How long does Kotschy's Gecko live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Kotschy's Gecko move? 5 km/h ### What does Kotschy's Gecko eat? These geckos are tiny hunters that eat small bugs and spiders found in their dry habitats. ### Where is Kotschy's Gecko usually found? Rocky areas ### How does Kotschy's Gecko hunt? Ambush ## 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: [Kotschy's Gecko: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kotschys-gecko)