The scientific name for a Leopard Gecko is Eublepharis Macularius and it is the most popular gecko in United States. Leopard geckos belong to the group of reptiles native to the desert regions of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan and neighboring regions. The Leopard gecko is an average-sized ground-dwelling lizard. They can grow 8 to 12" in length. Their bodies are flat and cylindrical. They are yellow-colored and they have black spots on them similar to the leopard and this is the reason why they are called as Leopard geckos. The scales on their bodies are flat. They have a thick tail and a long pink tongue. Their ears are very complex, but if one stands on one side and look through their ears one can see the other side clearly through their ears.

Leopard geckos, have movable eyelids unlike other types of geckos. These eyelids are not present in other gecko families. The eyelids protect them from the sand and dust of deserts and they use their tongue to clean their eyelids. They are nocturnal (they hunt only during the night) and their eyes are adapted to help them see clearly at night.

Leopard geckos become sexually mature around 10 to 14 months of age and they mate from March to September. After mating, the leopard gecko female lays eggs in clutches of two within 2 - 4 weeks. Leopard gecko eggs are usually incubated for 45-60 days after which time the gecko leaves its egg by creating a slit in the egg. The incubation temperature determines their gender. Typically an incubation temperature in the high 80s will produce a male while a temperature in the low 80s will produce a female.

After hatching, the first meal of a baby gecko will be its skin which is nutritious. They shed their skin within one week after they are born. In the wild, the female does not care for the young therefore the eggs and babies have to be cared for by the owner.

Juvenile leopard geckos have a band around them instead of spots and this band fades away into spots as they become older.

Leopard geckos primarily feed on crickets, meal worms, wax worms and other small insects. Though they are primarily insectivores, they also eat mice and other small creatures in the wild. They also store fat in their tails and use the stored fat when food is scarce.

Leopard geckos have increasingly been kept as pets. This has primarily been due to their gentle nature. They can live up to two decades in captivity if they are given the right care. When caring for leopard geckos remember that they require an environment very similar to their natural desert habitat.