Difference between revisions of "Gecko" - New World Encyclopedia

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{{Taxobox
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| color = pink
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| name = Geckos
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| image = Phelsuma_l._laticauda.jpg
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| image_caption = [[Gold dust day gecko]]
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
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| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
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| classis = [[Reptile|Reptilia]]
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| ordo = [[Squamata]]
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| subordo = [[Lacertilia]]
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| familia = '''Gekkonidae'''
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| familia_authority = [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1825
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| subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies
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| subdivision =
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[[Aeluroscalabotinae]]<br />
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[[Eublepharinae]]<br />
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[[Gekkoninae]]<br />
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[[Teratoscincinae]]<br />
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[[Diplodactylinae]]}}
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'''Geckos''' are small to average sized [[lizard]]s belonging to the family '''Gekkonidae''' which are found in warm climates throughout the world. Geckos are unique among lizards in their vocalizations, making chirping sounds in social interactions with other geckos. The name stems from the Malay word ''gekoq'', imitiative of its cry. Geckos are unusual in other respects as well. Most geckos have no eyelids and instead have a transparent membrane which they lick to clean. Many species will, in defense, expel a foul-smelling material and feces onto their molester. Many species have specialized toe pads that enable them to climb smooth vertical surfaces and even cross indoor ceilings with ease. These antics are well-known to people who live in warm regions of the world where several species of geckos make their home inside human habitations. These species (for example the [[house gecko]]) become part of the indoor menagerie and are seldom really discouraged because they feed on insect [[Pest (animal)|pest]]s.
 +
 +
==Common traits==
 +
Geckos come in various colors and patterns. Some are subtly patterned, and somewhat rubbery looking, while others can be brightly colored. Some species can change color to blend in with their surroundings or with temperature differences.
 +
 +
Some species are [[parthenogenesis|parthenogenic]], the females capable of reproducing without copulating with a male. This improves the gecko's ability to ''spread to new islands.
 +
 +
The toes of the gecko have attracted a lot of attention, as they adhere to a wide variety of surfaces, without the use of liquids or surface tension. Recent studies of the spatula tipped [[seta]]e on gecko footpads demonstrates that the attractive forces that hold geckos to surfaces are [[van der Waals force|van der Waals interactions]] between the finely divided setae (almost 500,000 Setae on each foot, and each of these tipped with between 100 and 1,000 spatulae) and the surfaces themselves.<ref>Kellar Autumn; Metin Sitti ; Yiching A. Liang; Anne M. Peattie; Wendy R. Hansen; Simon Sponberg; Thomas W. Kenny;'' Ronald Fearing; Jacob N. Israelachvili; Robert J. Full. Evidence for van der Waals adhesion in gecko setae. ''Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA'' '''2002''', ''99'', 12252-12256. {{doi|10.1073/pnas.192252799}}</ref> These kinds of interactions involve no fluids; in theory, a boot made of [[synthetic setae]] would adhere as easily to the surface of the [[International Space Station]] as it would to a living room wall, although adhesion varies with humidity and is dramatically reduced under water, suggesting a contribution from [[capillarity]].<ref name=Lee>H. Lee ''et al.'' 2007. ''A reversible wet/dry adhesive inspired by mussels and geckos''.  ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'' '''448''': 338–341. (19 July)</ref> The setae on the feet of geckos is also self cleaning and will usualy remove any clogging dirt within a few steps.<ref>[http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/102/2/385 PNAS study]</ref>
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Geckos' toes seem to be "double jointed", but this is a misnomer.  Their toes actually bend in the opposite direction from our fingers and toes.  This allows them to overcome the van der Waals force by peeling their toes off surfaces from the tips inward.  In essence, this peeling action alters the angle of incidence between millions of individual setae and the surface, reducing the van der Waals force. Geckos' toes operate well below their full attractive capabilities for most of the time. This is because there is a great margin for error depending upon the [[roughness]] of the surface, and therefore the number of spatulae in contact with that surface. If a typical mature 70g gecko had every one of its [[spatula]]e in contact with a surface, it would be capable of holding aloft a weight of 133 [[kilogram|kg]]:<ref>Kellar Autumn, [http://www.sciam.com/askexpert_question.cfm?articleID=00063848-7A91-1F56-905980A84189EEDF Scientific American: Ask the experts]. Accessed 05 June 2007</ref> each spatula can exert an adhesive force of 10 [[nanonewton|nN]].<ref name=Lee />
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The [[family (biology)|family]] Gekkonidae is divided into five subfamilies, containing numerous [[genus|genera]] of gecko [[species]]. Many geckos are kept as pets and will eat various kinds of [[insect]]s and sometimes [[fruit]].
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==Common species of gecko==
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[[Image:LizardFemoralPoresRooij.png|thumb|Pores on the skin are often used in classification]]
 +
* '''[[Bibron's gecko]]''', ''Pachydactylus bibroni'' &mdash; Native to Southern Africa, this hardy [[arboreal]] gecko is relatively common as a pet.
 +
* '''[[New Caledonian crested gecko|Crested gecko]]''', ''Rhacodactylus ciliatus'' &mdash; Believed extinct until re-discovered in 1994. Gaining in popularity as a pet.  Unlike most other geckos, it prefers room temperature and is omnivorous.
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* '''Crocodile gecko or [[Moorish gecko]]''' (due to their crocodile like looks.), ''Tarentola mauritanica'' &mdash; Crocodile geckos are very strong and heavily built for their size usually growing up to 15.24 [[centimeter|cm]] (6 [[inch|in]]). They are commonly found in the [[Mediterranean]] region from the [[Iberian Peninsula]] and southern [[France]] to [[Greece]] and [[North Africa|northern Africa]]. Their most distinguishing characteristic is their pointed head and spiked skin with their tail resembling that of a [[crocodile]]'s.
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*'''[[Cyrtopodion brachykolon]]'''; commonly known as "bent-toed gecko", found in north-western [[Pakistan]].
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* '''[[New Caledonian bumpy gecko|Gargoyle gecko]]''', ''Rhacodactylus auriculatus'' &mdash; commonly known as the New Caledonian bumpy gecko or gargoyle gecko.
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* '''[[Gold dust day gecko]]''' (Phelsuma laticauda laticauda (Boettger, 1880) (syn. Pachydactylus laticauda Boettger, 1880)) is a diurnal subspecies of geckos. It lives in northern Madagascar and on the Comoros.
 +
* '''[[Gekko ulikovskii|Golden gecko]]''', ''Gekko ulikovskii'' &mdash; native to the warm rainforests of Viet nam.
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* '''[[House gecko]]''', ''Hemidactylus frenatus'' &mdash; A species that thrives around man and human habitation structures in the tropics and subtropics world wide.
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* '''[[Hemidactylus garnotii|Indo-Pacific gecko]]''', ''Hemidactylus garnotii'' &mdash; Also known as a ''fox gecko'' because of its long, narrow snout. This species is found in houses throughout the tropics. This gecko may eat [[leafcutter ant]]s.
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* '''[[Rhacodactylus leachianus|New Caledonian giant gecko]]''', ''Rhacodactylus leachianus'' &mdash; first described by Cuvier in 1829, is the largest of the Rhacodactylus geckos.
 +
* '''[[Leopard gecko]]''', ''Eublepharis macularius '' &mdash; The most common gecko kept as a pet is the leopard gecko, which does not have toe pads with setae, but rather claws. These enable it to more easily climb on rough surfaces like tree bark. This gecko cannot climb the glass of a [[terrarium]]. The leopard gecko tends to be docile and calm. This gecko can eat [[butterworm]]s, [[cockroach]]es, [[crickets]], [[mealworm]]s, [[waxworm]]s, and [[superworm]]s.
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* '''[[Hemidactylus turcicus|Mediterranean gecko]]''', ''Hemidactylus turcicus'' &mdash; residential and wild, introduced species (USA).
 +
*'''[[Lepidodactylus lugubris|Mourning gecko]]''', ''Lepidodactylus lugubris'' &mdash; This species is equally at home in the wild as in residential neighborhoods. Found in [[Hawaiian Islands|Hawaii]], it may have been an early Polynesian introduction. A parthenogenic species. There is a report from Hawaii of someone having seen a larger gecko of this type eating a smaller one (or rather, running away from view with a smaller gecko halfway out of its mouth) on two occasions.
 +
* '''[[Ptychozoon]]''', &mdash; a genus of arboreal gecko from Southeast Asia, known as Flying Geckos or Parachute Geckos, has wing-like flaps from the neck to the upper leg, to help it conceal itself on trees and provide lift while jumping.
 +
*'''[[Gehyra mutilata|Stump-toed gecko]]''', ''Gehyra mutilata'' (''Peropus mutilatus'') &mdash; This gecko, commonly referred to as a Gheckl, can vary its color from very light to very dark to blend into a background. At home in the wild as well as in residential neighborhoods.
 +
*'''[[Hemiphyllodactylus typus|Tree gecko]]''', ''Hemiphyllodactylus typus'' &mdash; Tree geckos are forest dwellers.
 +
*'''[[Tokay gecko]]''', ''Gekko Gecko'' &mdash; a large, common, [[Southeast Asia]]n gecko known for its aggressive temperament, loud mating calls, and bright markings.
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*'''[[Coleonyx variegatus|Western banded gecko]]''', ''Coleonyx variegatus'' &mdash; Native to southwestern United States and northwest Mexico.
 +
 +
==In culture==
 +
* In the past few years, geckos have entered into the consciousness of the USA as the advertising [[icon]] for the insurance company [[GEICO]], whose advertisements feature an animated [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] gecko (of the [[Phelsuma]] genus) that speaks [[English language|English]] with an [[East London, England|East London]] accent.
 +
* [[Gex (character)|Gex]] is an [[anthropomorphic]], wise-cracking gecko and the protagonist of the [[Gex (video game)|GEX]] video game series.
 +
* The [[Pokémon]] [[Treecko]], and its evolved forms [[Grovyle]] and [[Sceptile]] are based on the gecko, and so is the [[Neopets|Neopet]] [[List of Neopets#Techo|Techo]].
 +
* The [[Gold dust day gecko]] is the un-official Hawaiian state reptile.
 +
* A gecko called Geronimo features in the book ''[[My Family and Other Animals]]'' by the celebrated naturalist ''[[Gerald Durrell]]''.
 +
* Edgar, a character from the webcomic [[Pandect]] is an Ace of Blue and White geckos. He is possibly a [[piebald]] blue gecko.
 +
* The current mascot of [[SUSE Linux]] distribution is a gecko called Geeko, also known as the "SUSE Lizard", but is a [[Chameleon]] for the shape.
 +
* In the popular manga ''[[One Piece]]'', the [[shichibukai]] Gecko Moria's animal theme is a gecko.
 +
* Gecko can be seen on the "bigger" crown of King Julien in the animated movie ''[[Madagascar (film)|Madagascar]]''.
 +
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==Gallery==
 +
<gallery>
 +
Image:Gecko_Rockwall_TX_US.jpg|A Mediterranean gecko in [[Texas]] ([[United States|USA]])
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Image:Cnemaspis_unid.jpg|A gecko of the genus ''[[Cnemaspis]]'' from the [[Western Ghats]]
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Image:Hemidactylus dindigal full.jpg|A ''[[Hemidactylus]]'' gecko
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Image:Hemidactylus_Dindigul.jpg|Close up of ''[[Hemidactylus]]'' claws
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Image:DSC09467.JPG|[[Leopard gecko]] (Juvenile)
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Image:GeckoOranaParkNZ gobeirne.JPG|[[Naultinus grayii|Northland Green Gecko]], [[New Zealand]]
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Image:Tokay_Gecko.jpg|Tokay gecko
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image:Leaf Tailed Gecko P9240101.JPG|Leaf Tailed Gecko
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image:Theothersideofgecko.jpg|Bottom view of a gecko
 +
image:SmallGeckoLescalaBeach.jpg|Small Gecko in [[L'Escala]], [[Spain]]. Believed to be a Moorish/Crocodile Gecko
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
==See also==
 +
* [[Geckel]]
 +
 +
==References==
 +
<references/>
 +
* Forbes, Peter (4th Estate, London 2005) 'The Gecko's Foot - Bio Inspiration: Engineered from Nature' ISBN 0-00-717990-1 in H/B
 +
 +
==External links==
 +
{{commonscat|Gekkonidae}}
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* [http://www.leopard-gecko.eu/ Comprehensive leopard gecko information]
 +
* [http://geckofile.top-site-list.com Gecko Resource Forums]
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* [http://www.geckocare.net/ Comprehensive Gecko Care Information]
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* [http://www.gekkota.com Global gecko association site with pictures, caresheets, species list]
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* [http://www.leopardgeckocare.net Leopard Gecko Care]
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* [http://www.geckophiles.com/ Josh Ellis and Katie Francis]
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* [http://www.thegeckospot.net/ Leopard Gecko Care/Breeder ]
 +
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/thirtypounces/54014101/ Gecko anatomy picture]
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* [http://www.null-hypothesis.co.uk/science/reviews/books/geckos_foot_peter_forbes_reviewed The Gecko's Foot]
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* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6967474.stm Artificial Gecko feet for a Spiderman suit (BBC 2007-08-28)]
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[[Category:Life sciences]]
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[[Category:Animals]]
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{{credit|Gecko|159380465}}

Revision as of 18:32, 21 September 2007


Geckos
Gold dust day gecko
Gold dust day gecko
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia
Family: Gekkonidae
Gray, 1825
Subfamilies

Aeluroscalabotinae
Eublepharinae
Gekkoninae
Teratoscincinae
Diplodactylinae

Geckos are small to average sized lizards belonging to the family Gekkonidae which are found in warm climates throughout the world. Geckos are unique among lizards in their vocalizations, making chirping sounds in social interactions with other geckos. The name stems from the Malay word gekoq, imitiative of its cry. Geckos are unusual in other respects as well. Most geckos have no eyelids and instead have a transparent membrane which they lick to clean. Many species will, in defense, expel a foul-smelling material and feces onto their molester. Many species have specialized toe pads that enable them to climb smooth vertical surfaces and even cross indoor ceilings with ease. These antics are well-known to people who live in warm regions of the world where several species of geckos make their home inside human habitations. These species (for example the house gecko) become part of the indoor menagerie and are seldom really discouraged because they feed on insect pests.

Common traits

Geckos come in various colors and patterns. Some are subtly patterned, and somewhat rubbery looking, while others can be brightly colored. Some species can change color to blend in with their surroundings or with temperature differences.

Some species are parthenogenic, the females capable of reproducing without copulating with a male. This improves the gecko's ability to spread to new islands.

The toes of the gecko have attracted a lot of attention, as they adhere to a wide variety of surfaces, without the use of liquids or surface tension. Recent studies of the spatula tipped setae on gecko footpads demonstrates that the attractive forces that hold geckos to surfaces are van der Waals interactions between the finely divided setae (almost 500,000 Setae on each foot, and each of these tipped with between 100 and 1,000 spatulae) and the surfaces themselves.[1] These kinds of interactions involve no fluids; in theory, a boot made of synthetic setae would adhere as easily to the surface of the International Space Station as it would to a living room wall, although adhesion varies with humidity and is dramatically reduced under water, suggesting a contribution from capillarity.[2] The setae on the feet of geckos is also self cleaning and will usualy remove any clogging dirt within a few steps.[3]

Geckos' toes seem to be "double jointed", but this is a misnomer. Their toes actually bend in the opposite direction from our fingers and toes. This allows them to overcome the van der Waals force by peeling their toes off surfaces from the tips inward. In essence, this peeling action alters the angle of incidence between millions of individual setae and the surface, reducing the van der Waals force. Geckos' toes operate well below their full attractive capabilities for most of the time. This is because there is a great margin for error depending upon the roughness of the surface, and therefore the number of spatulae in contact with that surface. If a typical mature 70g gecko had every one of its spatulae in contact with a surface, it would be capable of holding aloft a weight of 133 kg:[4] each spatula can exert an adhesive force of 10 nN.[2]

The family Gekkonidae is divided into five subfamilies, containing numerous genera of gecko species. Many geckos are kept as pets and will eat various kinds of insects and sometimes fruit.

Common species of gecko

Pores on the skin are often used in classification
  • Bibron's gecko, Pachydactylus bibroni — Native to Southern Africa, this hardy arboreal gecko is relatively common as a pet.
  • Crested gecko, Rhacodactylus ciliatus — Believed extinct until re-discovered in 1994. Gaining in popularity as a pet. Unlike most other geckos, it prefers room temperature and is omnivorous.
  • Crocodile gecko or Moorish gecko (due to their crocodile like looks.), Tarentola mauritanica — Crocodile geckos are very strong and heavily built for their size usually growing up to 15.24 cm (6 in). They are commonly found in the Mediterranean region from the Iberian Peninsula and southern France to Greece and northern Africa. Their most distinguishing characteristic is their pointed head and spiked skin with their tail resembling that of a crocodile's.
  • Cyrtopodion brachykolon; commonly known as "bent-toed gecko", found in north-western Pakistan.
  • Gargoyle gecko, Rhacodactylus auriculatus — commonly known as the New Caledonian bumpy gecko or gargoyle gecko.
  • Gold dust day gecko (Phelsuma laticauda laticauda (Boettger, 1880) (syn. Pachydactylus laticauda Boettger, 1880)) is a diurnal subspecies of geckos. It lives in northern Madagascar and on the Comoros.
  • Golden gecko, Gekko ulikovskii — native to the warm rainforests of Viet nam.
  • House gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus — A species that thrives around man and human habitation structures in the tropics and subtropics world wide.
  • Indo-Pacific gecko, Hemidactylus garnotii — Also known as a fox gecko because of its long, narrow snout. This species is found in houses throughout the tropics. This gecko may eat leafcutter ants.
  • New Caledonian giant gecko, Rhacodactylus leachianus — first described by Cuvier in 1829, is the largest of the Rhacodactylus geckos.
  • Leopard gecko, Eublepharis macularius — The most common gecko kept as a pet is the leopard gecko, which does not have toe pads with setae, but rather claws. These enable it to more easily climb on rough surfaces like tree bark. This gecko cannot climb the glass of a terrarium. The leopard gecko tends to be docile and calm. This gecko can eat butterworms, cockroaches, crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and superworms.
  • Mediterranean gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus — residential and wild, introduced species (USA).
  • Mourning gecko, Lepidodactylus lugubris — This species is equally at home in the wild as in residential neighborhoods. Found in Hawaii, it may have been an early Polynesian introduction. A parthenogenic species. There is a report from Hawaii of someone having seen a larger gecko of this type eating a smaller one (or rather, running away from view with a smaller gecko halfway out of its mouth) on two occasions.
  • Ptychozoon, — a genus of arboreal gecko from Southeast Asia, known as Flying Geckos or Parachute Geckos, has wing-like flaps from the neck to the upper leg, to help it conceal itself on trees and provide lift while jumping.
  • Stump-toed gecko, Gehyra mutilata (Peropus mutilatus) — This gecko, commonly referred to as a Gheckl, can vary its color from very light to very dark to blend into a background. At home in the wild as well as in residential neighborhoods.
  • Tree gecko, Hemiphyllodactylus typus — Tree geckos are forest dwellers.
  • Tokay gecko, Gekko Gecko — a large, common, Southeast Asian gecko known for its aggressive temperament, loud mating calls, and bright markings.
  • Western banded gecko, Coleonyx variegatus — Native to southwestern United States and northwest Mexico.

In culture

  • In the past few years, geckos have entered into the consciousness of the USA as the advertising icon for the insurance company GEICO, whose advertisements feature an animated anthropomorphic gecko (of the Phelsuma genus) that speaks English with an East London accent.
  • Gex is an anthropomorphic, wise-cracking gecko and the protagonist of the GEX video game series.
  • The Pokémon Treecko, and its evolved forms Grovyle and Sceptile are based on the gecko, and so is the Neopet Techo.
  • The Gold dust day gecko is the un-official Hawaiian state reptile.
  • A gecko called Geronimo features in the book My Family and Other Animals by the celebrated naturalist Gerald Durrell.
  • Edgar, a character from the webcomic Pandect is an Ace of Blue and White geckos. He is possibly a piebald blue gecko.
  • The current mascot of SUSE Linux distribution is a gecko called Geeko, also known as the "SUSE Lizard", but is a Chameleon for the shape.
  • In the popular manga One Piece, the shichibukai Gecko Moria's animal theme is a gecko.
  • Gecko can be seen on the "bigger" crown of King Julien in the animated movie Madagascar.

Gallery

  • A Mediterranean gecko in Texas (USA)

  • A gecko of the genus Cnemaspis from the Western Ghats

  • A Hemidactylus gecko

  • Close up of Hemidactylus claws

  • DSC09467.JPG

    Leopard gecko (Juvenile)

  • Northland Green Gecko, New Zealand

  • Tokay gecko

  • Leaf Tailed Gecko

  • Bottom view of a gecko

  • SmallGeckoLescalaBeach.jpg

    Small Gecko in L'Escala, Spain. Believed to be a Moorish/Crocodile Gecko

See also

  • Geckel

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  1. ↑ Kellar Autumn; Metin Sitti ; Yiching A. Liang; Anne M. Peattie; Wendy R. Hansen; Simon Sponberg; Thomas W. Kenny; Ronald Fearing; Jacob N. Israelachvili; Robert J. Full. Evidence for van der Waals adhesion in gecko setae. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 2002, 99, 12252-12256. Digital object identifier (DOI): 10.1073/pnas.192252799
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 H. Lee et al. 2007. A reversible wet/dry adhesive inspired by mussels and geckos. Nature 448: 338–341. (19 July)
  3. ↑ PNAS study
  4. ↑ Kellar Autumn, Scientific American: Ask the experts. Accessed 05 June 2007
  • Forbes, Peter (4th Estate, London 2005) 'The Gecko's Foot - Bio Inspiration: Engineered from Nature' ISBN 0-00-717990-1 in H/B

External links

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