Geckos, lizards, anoles, salamanders, and newts are often confused. Geckos and anoles are lizards in the Squamata order of reptiles, the largest reptilian order. This order also includes chameleons. Salamanders and newts are in the Urodela order of the Amphibia class.
The Squamata order contains about 6,000 species. Geckos have the most species within this order. about 1,500. The 7 families of geckos are contained in the infraorder Gekkota.
Most geckos lack eyelids and rely on licking their eyeballs with their tongue to keep them moist and clean. Geckos are the only lizard able to vocalize; they use sound to communicate with potential mates and use hissing noises to deter threats. Most have the ability to “lose” they tail as a self-defense ploy in distracting predators. Geckos have excellent eyesight for forging at night; they are nocturnal feeders.
Geckos shed their skin on a regular basis; juveniles shed more often than adults. The skin is not wasted, it is eaten by the animal. Adhesive toe pads are found on most geckos and assist in keeping a grip on slippery surface areas.
Depicted are the common knob-tailed gecko, Nephrurus levis, the marbled velvet gecko, Oedura marmorata and the wood gecko, Diplodactylus vittatus.
