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Skip to contentSearchShopNational Geographic Kids Logo - HomeGamesQuizzesPersonality QuizzesPuzzlesActionFunny Fill-InVideosAmazing AnimalsWeird But True!Party AnimalsTry This!AnimalsMammalsBirdsPrehistoricReptilesAmphibiansInvertebratesFishExplore MoreMagazinehistoryScienceSpaceU.S. StatesWeird But True!SubscribemenuGeckos have adapted to habitats from rain forests to deserts to cold mountain slopes.Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.Many geckos—including Asia’s tokay gecko—can’t blink. So they keep their eyes moist and clean by licking them.Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.Most wild geckos chirp or bark and blend in with their surroundings.Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.Most geckos don’t have movable eyelids. They have one transparent eyelid, which they keep clean by licking it with their tongues.Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.1 / 41 / 4Geckos have adapted to habitats from rain forests to deserts to cold mountain slopes.Geckos have adapted to habitats from rain forests to deserts to cold mountain slopes.Photograph by Dennis van de Water, Shutterstock
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Common Name: Web-Footed GeckoScientific Name: Palmatogecko rangeiType: ReptilesDiet: InsectivoreAverage Life Span In The Wild: 5 yearsSize: 4 to 6 inches

Geckos are reptiles and are found on all the continents except Antarctica. These colorful lizards have adapted to habitats from rain forests, to deserts, to cold mountain slopes.

Over a long period of time, geckos have developed special physical features to help them survive and avoid predators. Gecko tails serve many purposes. They help balance their weight as they climb branches, they act as fuel tanks to store fat, and as camouflage to help them disappear into their environment. Geckos are also able to shed their tails if a predator grabs them.

Most geckos are nocturnal, which means they are active at night, but day geckos are active during the day and nibble on insects, fruits, and flower nectar. Most geckos make noises such as chirping, barking, and clicking when they are defending their territory or attracting a mate.

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Female geckos lay their eggs in leaves and bark. Most geckos don’t have movable eyelids and instead have one transparent eyelid which they keep clean by licking it with their tongues.

There are many species of geckos. Depending on the species, their endangered status can range from least concern to critically endangered.

2:12Kamri Noel and National Geographic’s David Gruber discover what makes gecko feet stick.

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