I've had a love affair with reptiles since I was a toddler, I remember being allowed to touch a baby alligator and hold an Indian Python at the age of 4. The reptile house in any zoo is, in my opinion, the best part of the zoo.
The study of Reptiles and Amphibians is called Herpetology.
The Common Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is a small lizard. Their taxonomical name refers to their Eyelids and spotted colouring.
Most other geckos, in comparison, do not have eyelids and have to lick their eyeballs to maintain moisture.
Fun Fact! Leopard geckos store their fat reserves in their tails. As a defence mechanism they can drop their tails and then grow a new tail. How cool is that?
This Gecko dropped her tail a few years ago, in a hunting accident by a cage mate, she was separated and her tail grew back. Note : The tail looks significantly different to the original.
Unlike other geckos, the Leopard Gecko can not climb vertical objects, they don't have the adhesive foot pads, but small sharp claws.
Habitat : The leopard gecko is a desert species, coming from dry sandy areas in Asia. Native to Pakistan, Iran, Nepal, Afghanistan and India. Most pet keeping guides suggest that they should live alone, but evidence suggests that they live in loose knit colonies, in the wild.
They are a crepuscular, carnivorous species and will hide in burrows during the day. Males in close proximity will fight but females can generally live together in harmony.
Owing to their relatively simple habitat needs, they are a fairly easy starter reptile.
Leopard geckos have a stiff beak with 100 tiny teeth which are frequently replaced. Leopard geckos rarely bite, and when they do, do not cause too much harm. I have, however, been taken by surprise when giving antibiotics.
Yes, reptiles sometimes need a trip to the vet!
That's all for today.
Happy Tuesday!
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