Gecko
13134
226032251
2008-07-16T15:00:55Z
Oda Mari
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Reverted 1 edit by [[Special:Contributions/130.166.109.92|130.166.109.92]] identified as [[WP:VAND|vandalism]] to last revision by [[User:Bender235|Bender235]]. using [[WP:TWINKLE|TW]]
{{otheruses}}
{{Taxobox
| name = Geckos
| image = Phelsuma_l._laticauda.jpg
| image_caption = [[Gold dust day gecko]]
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Reptile|Reptilia]]
| ordo = [[Squamata]]
| subordo = [[Lizard|Lacertilia]]
| familia = '''Gekkonidae'''
| familia_authority = [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1825
| subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies
| subdivision =
[[Aeluroscalabotes felinus|Aeluroscalabotinae]]<br />
[[Eublepharinae]]<br />
[[Gekkoninae]]<br />
[[teratoscincus|Teratoscincinae]]<br />
[[Diplodactylinae]]}}
'''Geckos''' are small to average sized [[lizard]]s belonging to the family '''Gekkonidae''' which are found in warm climates throughout the world. Geckos are unique among lizards in their vocalizations, making chirping sounds in social interactions with other geckos. There are 1,196 different species of geckos.<ref>http://www.diffen.com/difference/Gecko_vs_Lizard</ref> The name stems from the Indonesian/Javanese word ''gekok'', imitative of its cry. The Malay word for gecko is 'cicak'. Most geckos have no eyelids and instead have a transparent membrane which they lick to clean. Many species will, in [[defence mechanism|defense]], expel a foul-smelling material and feces onto their aggressors. Many species have specialized toe pads that enable them to climb smooth and vertical surfaces and even cross indoor ceilings with ease. These antics are well-known to people who live in warm regions of the world, where several species of geckos make their home inside human habitations. These species (for example the [[House Gecko]]) become part of the indoor menagerie and are seldom really discouraged because they feed on insects (pests).
==Common traits==
[[Image:Gold dust day gecko at flower-edit1.jpg|[[Gold dust day gecko]] licking nectar from the 'bird of paradise' flower of [[Strelitzia]]|thumb|250px|left]]
Geckos come in various colors and patterns. Some are subtly patterned, and somewhat rubbery looking, while others can be brightly colored. Some species can change color to blend in with their surroundings or with temperature differences. Some species are [[parthenogenesis|parthenogenic]], the females capable of reproducing without copulating with a male. This improves the gecko's ability to spread to new islands.
[[Image:Gecko footpads.jpg|Gecko footpads|thumb|250px|right]]
The toes of the gecko have attracted a lot of attention,as they adhere to a wide variety of surfaces, without the use of liquids or surface tension. Recent studies of the spatula tipped [[seta]]e on gecko footpads demonstrate that the attractive forces that hold geckos to surfaces are [[van der Waals force|van der Waals interactions]] between the finely divided setae and the surfaces themselves.
Every square millimetre of a gecko's footpad contains about 14,000 hair-like setae. Each seta has a diameter of 5 micrometres. Human hair varies from 18 to 180 micrometre, so the thinnest human hair could hold at least 12 setae. Each seta is in turn tipped with between 100 and 1,000 spatulae.<ref name="Hansen">{{cite journal |last=Hansen |first=W. R. |authorlink= |coauthors=Autumn, K. |year=2005 |month= |title=Evidence for self-cleaning in gecko setae |journal=[[Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|PNAS]] |volume=102 |issue=2 |pages=385–389 |doi=10.1073/pnas.0408304102 |url= |accessdate= |quote=Setae occur in uniform arrays on overlapping lamellar pads at a density of 14,400 per mm2 }}</ref> Each spatula is 0.2 micrometres long<ref name=Hansen/> (200 billionths of a metre), or just below the wavelength of visible light.<ref name="Autumn">{{cite journal |last=Autumn |first=Kellar |authorlink= |coauthors=''et al.'' |year=2002 |month= |title=Evidence for van der Waals adhesion in gecko setae |journal=PNAS |volume=99 |issue=19 |pages=12252–12256 |doi=10.1073/pnas.192252799 |url= |accessdate= |quote= }}</ref>
These van der Waals interactions involve no fluids; in theory, a boot made of [[synthetic setae]] would adhere as easily to the surface of the [[International Space Station]] as it would to a living room wall, although adhesion varies with humidity and is dramatically reduced under water, suggesting a contribution from [[capillary action|capillarity]].<ref name="Lee">{{cite journal |last=Lee |first=Haeshin |authorlink= |coauthors=Lee, Bruce P.; Messersmith, Phillip B. |year=2007 |month= |title=A reversible wet/dry adhesive inspired by mussels and geckos |journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]] |volume=448 |issue=7151 |pages=338–341 |doi=10.1038/nature05968 |url= |accessdate= |quote= }}</ref> The setae on the feet of geckos are also self cleaning and will usually remove any clogging dirt within a few steps.<ref name="Hansen" /><ref>[http://www.lclark.edu/~autumn/dept/geckostory.html How Geckos Stick to Walls<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[Teflon]], which is specifically engineered to resist van der Waals forces, is the only known surface to which a gecko cannot stick.<ref>[http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~peattiea/research_main.html Research<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Geckos' toes seem to be "double jointed", but this is a misnomer. Their toes actually bend in the opposite direction from our fingers and toes. This allows them to overcome the van der Waals force by peeling their toes off surfaces from the tips inward. In essence, this peeling action alters the angle of incidence between millions of individual setae and the surface, reducing the van der Waals force. Geckos' toes operate well below their full attractive capabilities for most of the time. This is because there is a great margin for error depending upon the [[roughness]] of the surface, and therefore the number of setae in contact with that surface. If a typical mature {{convert|70|g|oz|abbr=on|lk=on}} gecko had every one of its [[seta]]e in contact with a surface, it would be capable of holding aloft a weight of {{convert|133|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on}}:<ref>Kellar Autumn, [http://www.sciam.com/askexpert_question.cfm?articleID=00063848-7A91-1F56-905980A84189EEDF Scientific American: Ask the experts]. Accessed 5 June 2007</ref> each spatula can exert an adhesive force of {{convert|10|nN|mg-f|abbr=off|lk=on}}.<ref name=Lee /> Each seta can resist {{convert|10|mg-f|uN|abbr=off|lk=on}}, which is equivalent to 10 atmospheres of pull.<ref name=Hansen/>. This means a gecko can support about eight times its weight hanging from just one toe on smooth glass.<ref name=Hansen/> The setae also have a self-cleaning action, such that each step progressively removes any clogging micro particles.<ref name=Hansen/>
The [[family (biology)|family]] Gekkonidae is divided into five subfamilies, containing numerous [[genus|genera]] of gecko [[species]]. Many geckos are kept as pets and will eat various kinds of [[insect]]s and sometimes [[fruit]]. They change their sexes in different seasons. Geckos are found (rarely) in the [[Galápagos Islands]].
== Classification ==
'''Family Gekkonidae
*subfamily [[Aeluroscalabotes felinus|Aeluroscalabotinae]]
** single genus Aeluroscalabotes, only one specie [[Aeluroscalabotes felinus|A. felinus]], Southeast Asia
*subfamily [[Diplodactylinae]]
** 16 genera, found in Oceania
*subfamily [[Eublepharinae]]
** 5 genera
*subfamily [[Gekkoninae]]
** biggest subfamily, with 74 genera worldwide, some of the biggest genera are:
*** genus [[Gehyra]], Web-toed Geckos or Dtellas
*** genus [[Gekko]], true geckos
*** genus [[Hemidactylus]]
*** genus [[Phyllodactylus]], leaf-toed geckos
*** ...
*subfamily [[teratoscincus|Teratoscincinae]]
** single genus [[Teratoscincus]] ( 7 species)
==Common species of gecko==
[[Image:LizardFemoralPoresRooij.png|thumb|Pores on the skin are often used in classification]]
* '''[[Bibron's gecko]]''', ''Pachydactylus bibroni'' — Native to Southern Africa, this hardy [[arboreal]] gecko is relatively common as a pet.
* '''[[New Caledonian Crested Gecko|Crested gecko]]''', ''Rhacodactylus ciliatus'' — Believed extinct until rediscovered in 1994. Gaining in popularity as a pet.
* '''Crocodile gecko or [[Moorish gecko]]''', ''Tarentola mauritanica'' — very strong and heavily built for their size usually growing up to 15 [[centimetre|cm]] (6 [[inch|in]]). They are commonly found in the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] region from the [[Iberian Peninsula]] and southern [[France]] to [[Greece]] and [[North Africa|northern Africa]]. Their most distinguishing characteristic is their pointed head and spiked skin with their tail resembling that of a [[crocodile]]'s.
*'''[[Cyrtopodion brachykolon]]'''; commonly known as "bent-toed gecko", found in north-western [[Pakistan]].
* '''[[New Caledonian bumpy gecko|Gargoyle gecko]]''', ''Rhacodactylus auriculatus'' — commonly known as the New Caledonian bumpy gecko or gargoyle gecko.
* '''[[Gold dust day gecko]]''' (Phelsuma laticauda laticauda (Boettger, 1880) (syn. Pachydactylus laticauda Boettger, 1880)) is a diurnal subspecies of geckos. It lives in northern Madagascar and on the Comoros.
* '''[[Golden Gecko]]''', ''Gekko ulikovskii'' — native to the warm rainforests of [[Vietnam]].
* '''[[House Gecko]]''', ''Hemidactylus frenatus'' — A species that thrives around man and human habitation structures in the tropics and subtropics world wide.
* '''[[Hemidactylus garnotii|Indo-Pacific gecko]]''', ''Hemidactylus garnotii'' — Also known as a ''fox gecko'' because of its long, narrow snout. This species is found in houses throughout the tropics. This gecko may eat [[leafcutter ant]]s.
* '''[[Rhacodactylus leachianus|New Caledonian giant gecko]]''', ''Rhacodactylus leachianus'' — first described by Cuvier in 1829, is the largest of the Rhacodactylus geckos.
* '''[[Leopard gecko]]''', ''Eublepharis macularius '' — The most common gecko kept as a pet is the leopard gecko, which does not have toe pads with setae, but rather claws. These enable it to more easily climb on rough surfaces like tree bark. This gecko cannot climb the glass of a [[vivarium|terrarium]]. The leopard gecko tends to be docile and calm. This gecko can eat [[butterworm]]s, [[cockroach]]es, [[cricket]]s, [[mealworm]]s, [[waxworm]]s, and [[zophobas morio|superworm]]s.
* '''[[Hemidactylus turcicus|Mediterranean gecko]]''', ''Hemidactylus turcicus'' — residential and wild, introduced species (USA).
*'''[[Lepidodactylus lugubris|Mourning gecko]]''', originally an East Asian and Pacific species, ''Lepidodactylus lugubris'' is equally at home in the wild as in residential neighborhoods. Found in [[Hawaiian Islands|Hawaii]], it may have been an early Polynesian introduction. A parthenogenic species. There is a report from Hawaii of someone having seen a larger gecko of this type eating a smaller one (or rather, running away from view with a smaller gecko halfway out of its mouth) on two occasions.
* '''[[Ptychozoon]]''', — a genus of arboreal gecko from Southeast Asia, known as Flying Geckos or Parachute Geckos, has wing-like flaps from the neck to the upper leg, to help it conceal itself on trees and provide lift while jumping.
*'''[[Gehyra mutilata|Stump-toed gecko]]''', ''Gehyra mutilata'' (''Peropus mutilatus'') — This gecko, commonly referred to as a Gheckl, can vary its color from very light to very dark to blend into a background. At home in the wild as well as in residential neighborhoods.
*'''[[Hemiphyllodactylus typus|Tree gecko]]''', ''Hemiphyllodactylus typus'' — Tree geckos are forest dwellers.
*'''[[Tokay gecko]]''', ''Gekko Gecko'' — a large, common, [[Southeast Asia]]n gecko known for its aggressive temperament, loud mating calls, and bright markings.
*'''[[Coleonyx variegatus|Western banded gecko]]''', ''Coleonyx variegatus'' — Native to southwestern United States and northwest Mexico.
sphaeordactylus ariasae[[dwarf gecko]]; native to the carribean islands, and the world's smallest lizard
==In culture==
===State symbols===
* The [[Gold dust day gecko]] is the unofficial [[Hawaii]]an state reptile.
===Corporate symbols===
* In the past few years, geckos have entered into the consciousness of the USA as the advertising icon for the insurance company [[GEICO]], whose advertisements feature an animated [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] gecko (of the ''[[Phelsuma]]'' genus) that speaks with an East London accent.
* The current mascot of [[SUSE Linux]] distribution is a gecko called Geeko, also known as the "SUSE Lizard", but is a [[Chameleon]] for the shape.
* The logo of the car builder [[Wiesmann]] is a gecko.
===Video Games===
[[List of Gex Characters#Gex|Gex]] is an anthropomorphic, wise-cracking gecko and the protagonist of the [[Gex (series)|GEX series]].
* The [[Pokémon]] [[List of Pokemon (241-260)#Treecko|Treecko]], and its evolved forms [[List of Pokemon (241-260)#|Grovyle]] and [[List of Pokemon (241-260)#Sceptile|Sceptile]] are based on the gecko, and so is the [[Neopets|Neopet]] Techo.
* [[Fallout 2]] features mutated geckos as low-level enemies, with more powerful variants appearing later in the game. There is also a town called Gecko, and gecko skins can be harvested.
===Literature===
* A gecko called Geronimo features in the book ''[[My Family and Other Animals]]'' by the celebrated naturalist ''[[Gerald Durrell]]''.
* Edgar, a character from the webcomic Pandect is an Ace of Blue and White geckos. He is possibly a [[piebald]] blue gecko.
* In the book [[Spud (novel)|Spud]], the narrator's friend (who dies of malaria) is named Gecko (due to the fact that he's always sick).
===Film and television===
* In the anime and manga [[One Piece]], one of the characters is named [[The Three Great Powers#Gecko Moria|Gecko Moria]], and has a Gecko theme.
* The [[horror film]] [[Aberration (film)|Aberration]] featured mutated geckos.
* In the animated film ''[[Madagascar (2005 film)|Madagascar]]'', there is a dancing Gecko used as the King Lemur's new crown
* The design of the [[Malaysia]]n superhero [[Cicak Man]] is based on the gecko; ''cicak'' is Malay for gecko.
* In the [[situation comedy|sitcom]] [[Frasier]] episode ''The First Temptation Of Daphne'', [[Niles Crane|Niles]] and [[Frasier Crane|Frasier]] use a gecko to catch a cricket in Frasier's apartment.
===Music===
* The horrorcore rap artist Geckolands often references geckos in his songs, mostly in his first album.
===Internet===
* A gecko named "Gordon" is used as the mascot for the [[internet]] [[internet forum|messageboard]] called Thrapple.
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Gecko_Rockwall_TX_US.jpg|A [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] House Gecko (''[[Hemidactylus turcicus]]'') in [[Texas]], [[United States|USA]]
Image:Cnemaspis_unid.jpg|A gecko of the genus ''[[Cnemaspis]]'' from the [[Western Ghats]]
Image:Hemidactylus dindigal full.jpg|A ''[[Hemidactylus]]'' gecko
Image:Hemidactylus_Dindigul.jpg|Close-up of ''[[Hemidactylus]]'' claws
Image:DSC09467.JPG|Juvenile [[Leopard gecko]] (''Eublepharis macularius'')
Image:GeckoOranaParkNZ gobeirne.JPG|[[Northland green gecko]], ''Naultinus grayii'', [[New Zealand]]
Image:Tokay_Gecko.jpg|[[Tokay gecko]] (''Gekko gecko'')
image:Leaf Tailed Gecko P9240101.JPG|Leaf Tailed Gecko (''[[Uroplatus fimbriatus]]'')
image:Theothersideofgecko.jpg|Bottom view of a gecko.
image:SmallGeckoLescalaBeach.jpg|Small Gecko in [[L'Escala]], [[Spain]]
image:Gecko_Honolulu.JPG|A gecko in [[Kapiolani Park]], [[Honolulu, Hawaii]]
Image:agamurapersicahatching.jpg|''[[Agamura persica]]'' hatching
Image:Gecko_with_moth.jpg|[[Moorish gecko]] (Tarentola mauritanica) in Greece
Image:Gecko_Greece.jpg|[[Moorish gecko]] (Tarentola mauritanica) in Greece
</gallery>
==See also==
* [[Adhesion]]
* [[Dispersive adhesion]]
* [[Geckel]]
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
==Further reading==
* Forbes, Peter (4th Estate, London 2005) 'The Gecko's Foot - Bio Inspiration: Engineered from Nature' ISBN 0-00-717990-1 in H/B
==External links==
{{commonscat|Gekkonidae}}
* [http://www.gekkonids.com Gekkonids]
* [http://www.lclark.edu/~autumn/dept/geckostory.html How Geckos Stick to Walls]
* [http://www.leopard-gecko.eu/ Comprehensive leopard gecko information]
* [http://www.forums.repashy.com Gecko Resource Forums]
* [http://www.geckocare.net/ Comprehensive Gecko Care Information]
* [http://www.gekkota.com Global gecko association site with pictures, caresheets, species list]
* [http://www.leopardgeckocare.net Leopard Gecko Care]
* [http://www.geckophiles.com/ Josh Ellis and Katie Francis]
* [http://www.thegeckospot.net/ Leopard Gecko Care/Breeder]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/thirtypounces/54014101/ Gecko anatomy picture]
* [http://www.null-hypothesis.co.uk/science/reviews/books/geckos_foot_peter_forbes_reviewed The Gecko's Foot]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6967474.stm Artificial Gecko feet for a Spiderman suit (BBC 2007-08-28)]
* [http://www.westcoastleopardgecko.com Leopard gecko pictures, breeding, care sheet, chronology]
[[Category:Geckos| ]]
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