Home >> Science & Nature >> Nature

Wild Habitat of Geckos

Geckos are lizards found in various parts of the world. They are the only lizards known to vocalize, and the name comes from an Indonesian word used to mimic the gecko sound. Most of the 2,000 species of geckos are in their natural habitat in hot weather regions. Geckos can be found in rain forests, deserts, grasslands and marshes.

Rainforests
- Species of geckos are found in rain forests in Madagascar, Pakistan and New Zealand.One gecko in these wet, tropical climates is called the "flying gecko." These geckos do not fly at all, but have flaps of skin to boost their movement when leaping from tree to tree.
Deserts
- The rocky deserts of Pakistan, India and Afghanistan are home to the leopard gecko, which is known for its spotted skin. The gecko is able to scale the large rocks on the desert terrain using the suction pads on its feet. The western banded gecko lives in the Mojave Desert in California, the desert of Northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States. The Central Asian desert is home to the frog-eyed gecko.
Grasslands
- Geckos live in tropical grassland habitats sometimes called savannas. Located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, these areas are hot and dry but receive periods of torrential rains. The leopard gecko can be found in the Eurasian grasslands. The dwarf gecko lives in the savannas of South Africa. In the grassland, geckos can be found on large rocks or climbing up and down large trees.
Marshes
- Marshlands receive abundant water from river estuaries where rain forests meet the ocean. Leaf tailed and day geckos live in marshland habitats. Geckos in marshlands cling to the heavy marsh grass along the rain forest shores.

Nature