Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius)
ReptileGeckoSouth Asia
A leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius); the thick tail stores fat reserves.
Image: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Overview
The leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is a stocky, ground-dwelling gecko from the rocky drylands of Afghanistan, Pakistan, northwestern India and Iran. Adults are pale yellow with dark spots — the pattern that gives the species its name — while juveniles are boldly banded and develop spots as they mature.
It belongs to the eyelid geckos, and that is its defining oddity. Most geckos have no eyelids and clean their eyes by licking a transparent spectacle; a leopard gecko has movable eyelids and blinks.
It also lacks the adhesive toe pads that let many geckos climb glass and ceilings — it has claws instead, suited to a life on the ground — and it stores fat reserves in its noticeably thick tail. This profile describes the wild species and is not a care guide; it offers no husbandry, heating, feeding or veterinary advice.
Habitat & Range
Leopard geckos live in arid and semi-arid rocky habitat — stony desert, dry grassland, scrub and rocky hillsides — across Afghanistan, Pakistan, northwestern India and parts of Iran. They avoid loose sand, preferring firm ground with rocks and crevices, and shelter by day in burrows and under stones to escape the heat.
Diet
Leopard geckos are insectivores, taking insects and other invertebrates — crickets, beetles, spiders, scorpions and larvae. They hunt actively at night, and larger individuals may take small vertebrates. Fat stored in the tail is a buffer against periods when prey is scarce.
Behavior
Leopard geckos are crepuscular and nocturnal, emerging at dusk to hunt and spending the hottest part of the day sheltered. They are ground animals rather than climbers, using claws rather than adhesive pads. Like many lizards they can shed the tail when attacked; the regrown tail is typically shorter, blunter and different in pattern from the original. Vocalisation includes chirps and squeaks, particularly when disturbed.
Human Interaction & Conservation
The leopard gecko was one of the first reptile species to be established as a widely bred companion animal, and captive-bred animals now dominate the trade in a great many colour and pattern morphs. In its native range it is a wild animal of rocky drylands, subject to habitat pressures and collection. This profile covers the wild species only; questions about housing, temperature, lighting, diet, shedding or the health of a captive gecko belong with a qualified reptile veterinarian and specialist husbandry sources. Verify current status at the IUCN Red List.
Sourced facts
Each value below is traced to the specific reference that states it, listed at the end of this section. Reviewed 2026-09-22.
| Fact | What the source states | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Body size | About 220 mm as adults, rarely reaching around 250 mmThe account gives 220 mm (8") with 10" described as rare; the second figure is converted here. | Animal Diversity Web |
| Lifespan | About 22 years in captivitysources disagreeThe account gives roughly 22 years in one section and an average of 4.9 years for captive females in another — a fourfold disagreement within one source. No wild lifespan is stated at all. | Animal Diversity Web |
| Geographic range | Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, north-western India and Pakistan | Animal Diversity Web |
| Habitat | Dry and semi-dry desert and arid grassland | Animal Diversity Web |
| Diet | In the wild, scorpions, centipedes, spiders and beetlesThe account also lists what captive animals are fed. That is husbandry rather than natural history and is deliberately not reproduced here. | Animal Diversity Web |
| Activity pattern | Nocturnal, sheltering under rocks or in burrows by day | Animal Diversity Web |
Not stated here, and why
- Weight— no source accepted yet
- The account states no body mass, and no other source meeting this repository's policy was accepted for it. Left open rather than filled from a pet-care page.
- Social structure— not established by the source
- The account describes no social structure for this species. Recorded as not established rather than assumed solitary.
References for the facts above
- UniversityAnimal Diversity Web — University of Michigan Museum of ZoologySupports: Body size, mass, lifespan, geographic range, habitat, diet, activity pattern and social structure. Retrieved 2026-09-22.Limitations: A peer-edited account written largely by students under faculty review. Figures are compiled from the literature rather than from a single study, and some are regional.
Frequently Asked Questions — Leopard Gecko
Can leopard geckos blink?
Why can't leopard geckos climb glass?
Why is a leopard gecko's tail so thick?
Where do leopard geckos live in the wild?
Sources and further reading
Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.
- UniversityAnimal Diversity Web — Eublepharis macularius (leopard gecko) — University of Michigan species account
- ReferenceThe Reptile Database — Museum-backed taxonomic database of reptile species
- Wildlife referenceIUCN Red List of Threatened Species — Authoritative source for current conservation status