- Reptiles Magazine

Eublepharis macularius possess
toenails that grip.
Gekko vittatus possess claws
that grip and also adhesive lamellae.
Rhacodactylus leachianus possess claws
that grip and also adhesive lamellae.
Eublepharis macularius
Gecko
Feet Facts
ARTICLE BY JULIE BERGMAN
PHOTOS COURTESY ANDREW GILPIN
Gehyra marginata
Gekko vittatus
How geckos’ feet
actually help them
reach new heights.
Ptyodactylus guttatus
Ptychozoon lionotum
G
ecko feet are highly specialized to function in the
p a rticular environment the gecko lives in.The differe nt
types of gecko genera are named for their types of feet:
■ Rhacodactylus: web-fingered
■ Pachydactylus: thick-fingered
■ Ptyodactylus: split-fingered
In Latin,“dactylus” means finger or toe. Most geckos have adhesive
lamellae made up of a sys tem of tiny hairs that grip surfaces with the
assistance of molecular at t raction. However, not all geckos have
“sticky fe e t”and have toes with webbing, l i ke web-foo ted gecko s
(Pachydactylus rangei), or toes with toenails that grip, l i ke leopard
geckos (Eublepharis macularius). Some geckos, such as Ptyod a cty l u s
guttatus, Gehyra marginata,Ge k ko vittatus, Ptyc h ozoon lionotum and
Rhacod a ctylus leachianus, have adhesive lamellae and claws, a double
advantage to get them where they want to go!
Gehyra marginata possess claws that grip Ptyodactylus guttatus possess claws that
and also adhesive lamellae.
grip and also adhesive lamellae.
Ptychozoon lionotum possess claws that
grip and also adhesive lamellae.
Rhacodactylus leachianus
Gekko vittatus
Rhacodactylus leachianus