CHAPTER XI: THE GECKOS 



Families Geckonid/e and Eublepharid^e 



A Large Group of Granular- scaled Lizards, Represented by Four 

 Species in North America 



Classification and Distribution. — The Geckos form a very 

 large group of lizards. They are divided into three families 

 and these comprise over fifty genera. The species are distributed 

 throughout the semi-tropical and tropical portions of the globe. 

 They abound, in varied form, in the tropical portions of the 

 Old World, some frequenting the dense jungles, others living 

 upon burning, desert wastes practically devoid of other signs 

 of animal life. A vast majority of the species are nocturnal. 



Structure. — The Geckos have not the scaly aspect of most 

 lizards. Their skin appears soft, like that of a toad; this is caused 

 by their very minute scales. The eyes are usually large, with 

 an elliptical pupil. With most of the species the toes are much 

 flattened, or expanded in the form of adhesive disks, thus ena- 

 bling the reptile to run up a smooth, perpendicular surface. The 

 tail is characteristic in its thick, swollen outlines; it is easily 

 separated from the body. 



Many of the tropical Geckos attain a large size — a foot or 

 more. All of the North American species are diminutive. 



Two families of this group are represented in the United 

 States — the Geckonidce and the Eiiblepharidce, by a total number 

 of four species. The families are separated by a slight difference 

 of the skeleton. 



The North American species may be recognized from other 

 lizards by the flat, pointed head which is swollen at the temples, 

 the minute scales of the body and the short, very thick tail. 

 The usual length is from three to four inches. One species occurs 

 in Florida; another is found from Texas to California and two 

 species inhabit the peninsula of Lower California. 



Following is a key to the four North American Geckos: 



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