ヤモリ | 種類、食事、事実 | ブリタニカ

Gecko | Species, Diet, & Facts | Britannica Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos gecko Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics Images & Videos Quizzes Animal Group Names Deadliest Animals Quiz Wild Words from the Animal Kingdom Vocabulary Quiz Match the Baby Animal to Its Mama Quiz Animal Factoids Contents CITE verified Cite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/animal/gecko Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. External Websites National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Establishment and characterization of rough-tailed gecko original tail cells World Animal Foundation - Gecko � Habitat, Behavior, Types, and Much More! A-Z Animals - Gecko White Rose Research Online - Gecko diversity: a history of global discovery (PDF) Live Science - Facts About Geckos American Chemical Society - Being a Gecko is Sticky Business! The Spruce Pets - A Guide to Pet Geckos PetMD - What Do Geckos Eat? Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. gecko - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11) gecko - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) gold dust day gecko Gold dust day gecko ( Phelsuma laticauda ). (more) gecko reptile Ask Anything Homework Help Also known as: Gekkota, gekko Written by George R. Zug Curator Emeritus, Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. George R. Zug Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 6, 2026 • History Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything Top Questions What is a gecko? What makes geckos different from other reptiles? Where do geckos live? How do geckos stick to walls and ceilings? What do geckos eat in the wild? How do geckos protect themselves from predators? Show more Show less gecko , (suborder Gekkota), any of more than 1,000 species of lizards making up six families of the suborder Gekkota. Geckos are mostly small, usually nocturnal reptiles with a soft skin. They also possess a short stout body, a large head, and typically well-developed limbs. The ends of each limb are often equipped with digits possessing adhesive pads. Most of the species are 3 to 15 cm (1.2 to 6 inches) long, including tail length (about half the total). They have adapted to habitats ranging from deserts to jungles . Some species frequent human habitations, and most feed on insects . Geckos are spread across six families: Carphodactylidae, Diplodactylidae, Eublepharidae, Gekkonidae, Phyllodactylidae, and Sphaerodactylidae. Of these, the eublepharids—a group that includes the banded geckos ( Coleonyx ) of the southwestern United States , the cat geckos ( Aleuroscalabotes ) of Indonesia and the Malay Peninsula , and others—have movable eyelids . 1 of 2 day gecko Day gecko (genus Phelsuma ). (more) 2 of 2 gecko; toe fans The toe fans of a fan-footed gecko ( Ptyodactylus hasselquistii ). (more) Most geckos have feet modified for climbing. The pads of their long toes are covered with small plates that are in turn covered with numerous tiny hairlike processes that are forked at the end. These microscopic hooks cling to small surface irregularities, enabling geckos to climb smooth and vertical surfaces and even to run across smooth ceilings . Some geckos also have retractable claws . Britannica Quiz Match the Baby Animal to Its Mama Quiz In their efforts to avoid predators , geckos appear to be fast enough to sprint across the surface of a water body without sinking. Although this ability has been shown in only one species, the flat-tailed house gecko ( Hemidactylus platyurus ), herpetologists argue that many other geckos may also possess it. Like snakes , most geckos have a clear protective covering over the eyes. The pupils of common nocturnal species are vertical and are often lobed in such a manner that they close to form four pinpoints. A gecko’s tail may be long and tapering, short and blunt, or even globular. The tail serves in many species as a storehouse of fat upon which the animal can draw during unfavourable conditions. The tail may also be extremely fragile and if detached is quickly regenerated in its original shape. Unlike other reptiles , most geckos have a voice, the call differing with the species and ranging from a feeble click or chirp to a shrill cackle or bark. Most species are oviparous , the eggs being white and hard-shelled and usually laid beneath the bark of trees or attached to the underside of leaves . A few species in New Zealand give birth to live young. Related Topics: Eublepharinae Gekkoninae day gecko Mediterranean gecko flat-tailed house gecko (Show more) See all related content Mediterranean gecko Mediterranean gecko ( Hemidactylus turcicus ). (more) Geckos are abundant throughout the warm areas of the world, and at least a few species occur on all continents except Antarctica . Geckos’ colours are usually drab, with grays, browns, and dirty whites predominating, though Phelsuma , a genus made up of the day geckos of Madagascar , is bright green and active in the daytime. The banded gecko ( Coleonyx variegatus ), the most widespread native North American species, grows to 15 cm (6 inches) and is pinkish to yellowish tan with darker bands and splotches. The tokay gecko ( Gekko gecko ), native to Southeast Asia , is the largest species, attaining a length of 25 to 35 cm (10 to 14 inches). It is gray with red and whitish spots and bands and is frequently sold in pet shops. Explore Britannica Premium! Trusted knowledge for those who want to know more. SUBSCRIBE George R. Zug The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica