Mediterranean Gecko

The Mediterranean gecko is a small (up to 5 inches), delicate lizard with many prominent bumps, or tubercles, along the back and upper sides. The coloration of this animal depends largely on temperature and time of day. During the daylight hours, the background is typically a darker shade of brown to gray. At night, the coloration changes to a light gray to almost pasty-white. Usually there are patches of darker brown that form a random pattern along the back.
The unregenerated tail is ringed with black and white. There are no movable eyelids, and the pupils are elliptical, signifying that the animal is nocturnal. The toe pads are expanded and rather complex. They are best described as “suction cups” that allow the lizard to climb even the smoothest panes of glass with ease.
This unique little lizard has a variety of ways to defend itself from predators. The first is the fact that its tail is easily broken, known as autotomization. This is where the tail comes off rather easily, and while the potential predator is preoccupied with the still moving tail, the lizard can crawl away to safety.
Over time, the lizard will regenerate a new tail, although this new one is never as long or as colorful as the original. Most geckos are seen with regenerated tails. Geckos are among the few lizards with a voice, and many will squeak when grasped, although apparently only the males have this ability.