Gecko

There are 1500 different species of gecko, or gekkota. The smallest ever discovered, Jaragua Sphaero, is less then two centimeters long (though the largest in that species was just over 60 centimeters). The largest species, the Kawekaweau, found in New Zealand is now extinct. The word gecko comes from an ancient language word 'gekoq'. While it is not in our dictionary today, it IS the sound that geckos make when interacting with other lizards of their species.

Some geckos are poisonous and can defend themselves, but what about your average gecko? Many geckos do not defend themselves by attack, but by distraction and escape. Almost all geckos can detach their tail and live. The tail, after it is removed, wriggles on the ground for a minute, giving the gecko a chance to escape while the predator is fooled by the tail.

The tail regrows after time, but only in cartilage, not bone like the original tail. Most geckos, after the predator is gone, will return to see if their tail is still there. If it is, the creature will eat it to store its nutrients for times when food is scarce. Geckos also do this when they shed their skin- they eat it for nutrients.

Geckos, unlike most lizards, are very friendly with humans and most people like them, as they love to eat mosquitoes and many other bugs. They have very special toe pads, and can climb up and vertical surface, as long as it is smooth. They can even, to the amazement of many, walk across ceilings with no problem!

As for gecko mating season, geckos can sometimes reproduce WITHOUT mating! A female can reproduce without a male- but only with a genetic disorder that leaves her prone to many diseases, illnesses, and a shorter lifespan. The eggs take 40-60 days to hatch, and after that, a year before the cycle starts all over again. The babies learn to survive without any help from the mother.