Page 56 - Reptiles & Dinosaurs (Britannica Illustrated Science Library)

52 LIZARDS AND CROCODILES

Geckos Scaly Eyes

Unlike most lizards, geckos do not
have movable eyelids. Their eyes
eckos are a group of small, slender lizard species that live mostly are covered with a transparent
in tropical and subtropical regions and on many islands in the membrane that they shed
periodically, along with the rest of
G oceans. Some species live in deserts, and many have burrows or their skin.
make their homes in rock crevices. They are nocturnal and can flee A gecko's skin
from their predators by voluntarily shedding their tails. Geckos are is covered with
the only lizards whose males produce sounds to attract females and tiny scales. Using its long, sticky
to defend their territory. These agile climbers can walk on smooth tongue, the gecko
cleans the membrane
vertical surfaces or even upside down by using tiny hairs on their feet over its eyes and
that let them stick to anything they touch. keeps it free of dust.

Geckos cannot blink.
They have only a fixed
Leaf-Tailed Gecko 1,050 lens, with an iris that
enlarges in darkness.
When hanging by its tail, it looks exactly
like a leaf, which gave rise to its common SPECIES ARE IN Toes with Suckers
name. Male geckos can produce sounds THE GECKO FAMILY A gecko's feet end in toes surrounded by smooth
similar to vocalized calls. In this species, membranes. They have 20 to 23 adhesive pads
they are especially loud and high-pitched. on the underside of the fourth toe. Geckos can
climb directly upward and cling to smooth
surfaces, because each toe has a disc with
tightly packed concave areas that act as suckers.

10 inches (25 cm)
LEAF-TAILED GECKO The texture of
its skin helps it
Scientific name Uroplatus henkeli
Its tail is to blend into its
Family Gekkonidae autotomic, environment.
Habitat Trees meaning that the
gecko can shed SETAE SPATULAE
Range Madagascar, Africa it, allowing the Geckos have tiny Each seta ends in up
Diet Carnivorous (insects) reptile to double filaments on the ends of to 1,000 microscopic
its speed. their toes called setae. hairs called spatulae.

Flight of the Gecko Claw
Its muscular legs
The Kuhl's flying gecko lives in trees in are those of a
Southeast Asia. Unlike flying lizards, it great climber.
glides with its webbed feet. When it is
not “flying,” it spends most of its time A Rare Phenomenon
hanging head down in the trees, ready 2 million Rows of
for a rapid takeoff. Scientists have explained the gecko's Setae
capacity to cling (which even enables them THE NUMBER OF HAIRS
to climb glass and never get it dirty) (SETAE) ON A GECKO'S
through electrostatic principles and even FEET
microphysics.

Spreading Its Limbs Arching Its Back Toes Backward Touch Down Tiny Pieces Raising the Palm
A B and Support
The membranes between The membranes along its When walking, it generate the same at a 30° angle
its toes are used as wings sides and flat tail help it to moves them this way The spatulae are very force that draws breaks this
for gliding. regulate its fall. up to 15 times per close to each other molecules together. attractive force.
second. and to the surface.