Leopard Geckos are small lizards that belong to the gecko family, which occur throughout the warmer parts of the world. Unlike most other geckos, though, leopard geckos and their closest relatives, which include the banded geckos from North America, have eyelids.

They derive their name from their spotted pattern, although young leopard geckos have wide distinct bands across their bodies. As they grow, these stripes fade and are replaced by spots, although their tails always retain traces of the banded pattern. Leopard geckos come from desert and semi - desert habitats in Pakistan and adjacent parts of Central Asia.

They avoid the extremes of heat and cold by sheltering in burrows and are most active during the early part of the night. They hunt for insects, which form the main part of their prey, and obtain most of their water from the prey. They use their tails to store fat when food is plentiful and, at these times the tails are carrot shaped; when food is scarce the tail gradually shrivels as the lizard uses up its stored fat. This is clearly an adaptation to their harsh and unpredictable environment.

Leopard geckos have become one of the most popular pet lizards. They are an ideal choice for beginners as well as experts because they breed readily in captivity and are therefore freely available. In addition, they are easy to cater for, requiring only a suitably set up cage, a diet of small insects such as crickets, and a moderate amount of heat. If they are obtained when they are young they quickly become accustomed to life in a cage and are not as nervous as many other species of lizards.Males are very territorial, however, and will fight to the death if they are housed together.

Like other geckos, leopard gecko females lay their eggs in pairs, although they may lay several clutches (up to 5) during a breeding season. The eggs have soft shells that absorb water from their surroundings during the embryo's development; they are usually laid in slightly moist sand. Hatching occurs six to ten weeks after the eggs were laid and the young geckos are well able to defend themselves and hunt for food from the moment of hatching.