What the sources say
Leopard GeckoEublepharis macularius
Every figure, record and mechanism on the Leopard Gecko profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 41 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.
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Source
01
Papenfuss, Shafiei Bafti & Sharifi 2021
Papenfuss, Shafiei Bafti & Sharifi (2021). Eublepharis macularius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T164745A1072324.
- The page saysThe IUCN Red List rated the species Least Concern in 2021.
- The source says
IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).
Note: Category read through GBIF's copy of the Red List (taxon 164745); the claim quotes the cached category text.
Source
02
McLean & Vickaryous 2011
McLean & Vickaryous (2011). A novel amniote model of epimorphic regeneration: the leopard gecko, Eublepharis macularius. BMC Developmental Biology.
- The page saysThat is autotomy. Most of the tail bones have fracture planes, unmineralized gaps that permit controlled breakage.
- The source says
intravertebral fracture planes, unmineralized gaps that pass transversely through most of the caudal (tail) vertebrae to permit controlled breakage of the skeleton
- The page saysThe gecko can grow the tail back in a minimum of 25 days at about 24°C
- The source says
The minimum timeframe to fully regenerate the tail (i.e., to achieve stage VII of a seven stage regeneration sequence) was 25 days at an ambient temperature of ~24°C
- The page saysin the regrown tail the bony vertebrae are replaced by a hollow cartilaginous cone
- The source says
the original axial skeleton consists of a series of bony vertebrae and persistent notochord, while in the regenerate tail these structures are replaced by a hollow cartilaginous cone
- The page saysGrab a leopard gecko firmly by the tail and the tail can come off.
- The source says
autotomy was induced in all experimental individuals by firmly grasping the tail between the thumb and index finger and applying pressure
Source
03
Higham & Russell 2009
Higham & Russell (2009). Flip, flop and fly: modulated motor control and highly variable movement patterns of autotomized gecko tails. Biology Letters.
- The page saysA desert gecko with movable eyelids, no sticky toe pads, and a dropped tail that keeps moving for up to 30 minutes.
- The source says
they exhibit extremely complex movement patterns for up to 30 min following autotomy
- The page saysA detached tail that keeps moving, flips included, for up to 30 minutes
- The source says
they exhibit extremely complex movement patterns for up to 30 min following autotomy, including acrobatic flips up to 3 cm in height
- The page saysResearchers recording the detached tails of leopard geckos found complex movement for up to 30 minutes, including acrobatic flips up to 3 cm high.
- The source says
they exhibit extremely complex movement patterns for up to 30 min following autotomy, including acrobatic flips up to 3 cm in height
- The page saysThat is autotomy. Most of the tail bones have fracture planes, unmineralized gaps that permit controlled breakage.
- The source says
tail autotomy in lizards
- The page saysA leopard gecko's dropped tail keeps moving for up to 30 minutes, acrobatic flips included
- The source says
they exhibit extremely complex movement patterns for up to 30 min following autotomy, including acrobatic flips up to 3 cm in height
Source
04
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Leopard Gecko. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
- The page saysmovable eyelids
- The source says
Because of their moveable eyelids, leopard geckos (unlike some geckos) can close their eyes
- The page saysno sticky toe pads
- The source says
Leopard geckos cannot climb up smooth surfaces because they do not have toe pads like most geckos.
- The page saysa regrown tail "may not look the same"
- The source says
if part of the tail is lost, it can regenerate, but may not look the same
- The page sayswith rocky ground and clay-gravel soil under a layer of sand
- The source says
The geckos' habitat is rocky, with clay-gravel soil below a layer of sand.
- The page saysThey are mostly limited to burrows and shade by day, and are more active at dawn and dusk.
- The source says
They are mostly limited to burrows and shaded areas during the day, becoming more active at dawn and dusk
- The page saysWinter temperatures can drop to 10°C, which drives them underground into semi-hibernation.
- The source says
winter temperatures can cool down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), driving the geckos underground into semi-hibernation
- The page saysLeopard geckos cannot climb smooth surfaces.
- The source says
Leopard geckos cannot climb up smooth surfaces because they do not have toe pads like most geckos.
- The page saysUnlike most geckos, they have no toe pads, and the toes end in a small claw.
- The source says
The toes end in a small claw.
- The page saysTheir eyelids move, unlike some geckos. They can close their eyes, and a long tongue can give them a quick lick.
- The source says
Because of their moveable eyelids, leopard geckos (unlike some geckos) can close their eyes—and their long tongue can give those eyes a quick lick as needed.
- The page saysFemales are 18 to 20 cm long and males 20 to 28 cm.
- The source says
females are 7.1 to 7.9 inches (18 to 20 centimeters) long; males are 7.9 to 11 inches (20 to 28 centimeters) long
- The page saysThey weigh 50 to 80 grams, against 2 to 5 grams at hatching.
- The source says
Weight: 1.8 to 2.8 ounces (50 to 80 grams)
- The page saysThey weigh 50 to 80 grams, against 2 to 5 grams at hatching.
- The source says
Weight at hatch: .07 to .17 ounces (2 to 5 grams)
- The page saysThey have to be wary of foxes, snakes and other large reptiles, and use keen hearing and sight to avoid them.
- The source says
Leopard geckos have to be wary of predators including foxes, snakes, and other large reptiles. They use their keen senses of hearing and sight to avoid threats; and their skin helps them camouflage themselves in their habitat.
- The page saysThey are among the most commonly kept pet lizards today.
- The source says
these hardy little reptiles are one of the most commonly kept “pet” lizards today
- The page saysFemales lay clutches of two eggs and bury them.
- The source says
Females produce one to five clutches of two eggs throughout the breeding season. Once the eggs have been laid, they are buried in soft or loose substrate.
- The page saysAt 26°C the eggs produce mostly females, at 29 to 31°C about equal numbers of each, and at 32°C mostly males.
- The source says
At a temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius), mostly females will be produced; at a range of 85 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit (29 to 31 degrees Celsius) , an equal number of males and females will be produced; and at a temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), mostly males will be produced.
- The page saysThe eggs hatch in 45 to 53 days.
- The source says
The eggs hatch in 45 to 53 days.
- The page saysYes. The first two weeks of incubation set it: a cool 26°C hatches mostly females, a warm 32°C mostly males, and 29 to 31°C an even split.
- The source says
At a temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius), mostly females will be produced; at a range of 85 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit (29 to 31 degrees Celsius) , an equal number of males and females will be produced; and at a temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), mostly males will be produced.
- The page saysNo. Most geckos have toe pads, but leopard geckos lack them, so they cannot climb up smooth surfaces.
- The source says
Leopard geckos cannot climb up smooth surfaces because they do not have toe pads like most geckos.
- The page saysThe temperature in the first two weeks of incubation decides the sex.
- The source says
The temperature of the incubation period in the first two weeks determines the sex of the offspring.
- The page saysUnlike most geckos, they have no toe pads, and the toes end in a small claw.
- The source says
Leopard geckos cannot climb up smooth surfaces because they do not have toe pads like most geckos.
- The page saysYes. The first two weeks of incubation set it: a cool 26°C hatches mostly females, a warm 32°C mostly males, and 29 to 31°C an even split.
- The source says
The temperature of the incubation period in the first two weeks determines the sex of the offspring.
- The page saysweightKg: 0.065
- The source says
Weight: 1.8 to 2.8 ounces (50 to 80 grams)
Note: task #1120: middle of the zoo's range
Source
05
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan
Eublepharis macularius (Common Leopard Gecko). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.
- The page saysDry and semi-dry desert and arid grasslands, from Afghanistan and Iran to Pakistan and northwest India
- The source says
Dry and semi-dry desert regions (Henkel 1995) and arid grasslands (Hunziker 1994).
- The page saysDry and semi-dry desert and arid grasslands, from Afghanistan and Iran to Pakistan and northwest India
- The source says
Leopard geckoes can be found throughout Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Northwest India (Henkel 1995) and Pakistan
- The page saysKnown to eat scorpions, centipedes, spiders and beetles in the wild
- The source says
are known to eat scorpions, centipedes, spiders, and beetles in the wild
- The page saysThe habitat is dry and semi-dry desert and arid grassland
- The source says
Dry and semi-dry desert regions (Henkel 1995) and arid grasslands (Hunziker 1994).
- The page saysIn the wild they are known to eat scorpions, centipedes, spiders and beetles.
- The source says
are known to eat scorpions, centipedes, spiders, and beetles in the wild
Source
06
The Reptile Database
Eublepharis macularius (Blyth, 1854). The Reptile Database.
- The page saysLeopard geckos live in eastern Afghanistan, Pakistan, northwest India, Nepal and eastern Iran.
- The source says
E Afghanistan, Pakistan, NW India (Rajasthan, Ajmer, Madar foot hills, Punhab, Jammu), Nepal, E Iran (fide CARRIÓN et al. 2003).
Note: #1229: ADW and SDZ list Iraq, but Iraqi records may belong to E. angramainyu; the Reptile Database's distribution leaves Iraq out
Source
07
AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database
Eublepharis macularius (leopard gecko). AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database.
- The page saysIn captivity, a leopard gecko has lived 28.5 years, the record in the AnAge longevity database.
- The source says
Record longevity in captivity is 28.5 years
- The page saysThe record lifespan in captivity is 28.5 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
- The source says
Record longevity in captivity is 28.5 years
How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.