Criptic's Page On Herps - Reptiles - Leopard Geckos

of the Leopard gecko is Eublepharis macularius. Eu = good, true. Blephar = eyelid. Macularius = spotted. They are a relatively short, fat tailed, and short limbed. It has a slightly flattened body and small body. This helps it hide in rock crevices and under dry scrub. It has a yellow background with a multitude of black spots and blotches.

Size:

Adult leopard geckos can reach a maximum length of eight inches. Hatchlings have a total length of 3 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches.

Growth Rate:

Hatchlings weigh 2.5 - 3 g. Adults typically weigh 45 - 60 g. This is a twenty-fold increase in weight from hatchling to adult. Young adults can breed at 30 g. Adult size can be reached by 18 months.

Longevity:

Leopard geckos can live a long time. There is a record of a male 28 1/2 years old at the St. Louis Zoo. Female leopard geckos live shorter than males.

Sexing:

There is only a slight difference between male and female leopard geckos. Males are more heavy-bodied, slightly broader head, and a thicker neck. They only reliable method of sexing leopard geckos is to look at the underside. Males have a V-shaped row of enlarged pre-anal pores in front of the vent. These may exude a waxy secretion. Males also have a pair of hemipenal swellings at the base of the tail. Juveniles should be at least 1 month old to be sexed reliably. You can use a 10X magnifying glass or pocket microscope to see the pre-anal pores.

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