Web-Footed Gecko essays

Web-Footed Gecko essays The web-footed gecko is native to the Namib Desert, located on the coast of southwest Africa. Living in this location has enabled the gecko to develop many unique physical characteristics that very few, if any, other animals have. The web-footed gecko also has developed a certain way of hunting for food, as well as a way of deterring predators if it feels it may become food. This gecko has also formed breeding methods particular to the region. This five-inch translucent lizard is native to the Namib Desert of southwest Africa. This region receives virtually no rain as the land is composed of bare rock and sand, although during the nights fog rolls in from the Atlantic, cooling the sand dunes. The gecko depends on this moisture to survive, as the geckos thin skin allows it to absorb moisture right out of the air. This reptile burrows during the day to avoid the extreme heat of the desert sun because the sand remains at a constant temperature just a few inches below the surface. Due to the harsh heat of the Namib the gecko has evolved into a nocturnal animal. Its name has derived from its feet, which resemble that of snowshoes in function, and a ducks feet in appearance. This gecko has the scientific nomenclature of Palmatogecko rangei. This name is significant as it shows its relationship to other geckos through its genus name Palmatogecko. The web-footed gecko is classified as follows: Kingdom: Animalia The web-footed gecko is a predator as it has a developed sense of sight. The geckos eyes have adapted to its environment to be more functional than most would expect. The lizards pupils narrow to very small slits in daylight only to transform into very large disks at night to absorb all the light possible. Although the gecko has good visibility, ...