We recently acquired a new educational animal at Green Cay, a Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius). Leopard Geckos derive their name from the black spots or stripes found on their body. Unlike other geckos they have eyelids and small claws instead of adhesive toepads. Our Leopard Gecko is of the Tangerine morph, hence the bright orange coloration.
Leopard Geckos come from the deserts of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Western India and parts of Iran. They're a nocturnal species that feed on insects and anything else they can overpower including mice. We feed our guy a diet of crickets and give him a dark little cave to hide in during the day. Most Leopard Geckos grow up to 6 to 11 inches. And in captivity they can live 10 to 15 years. When this guy first came into our hands I wasn't really convinced we needed a lizard, especially a brightly colored exotic. Like most of our educational animals they don't come into our possession by desire but by a play of events that range from rescued pets to donated found specimens. Each one though plays an important role of helping educate the public about food chains, protection of species or like this one, the role of exotics in the South Florida landscape.
I took this picture to give you an idea of the size of our new little lizard. After our photo session yesterday I think the dude has grown on me. Next time I give my exotics presentation I know I'll be ready to use him.
No comments:
Post a Comment