# Leopard Gecko — Facts, Threats & Conservation

*Eublepharis macularius (Blyth, 1854)*

> The leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is a hardy, ground-dwelling South Asian lizard — Least Concern in the wild — and a popular beginner pet; its many 'morphs' are captive-bred colour and pattern lines of one species.

**IUCN status:** Least Concern (IUCN) — wild leopard gecko  ·  **WARN range:** South Asia — Afghanistan, Pakistan, north-west India, Iran (wild); kept worldwide

## Quick facts
| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Wild range | Afghanistan, Pakistan, NW India, Iran |
| Adult size | 20–27 cm including tail |
| IUCN status | Least Concern (wild) |
| Lifespan | 10–20 years (sometimes longer) |
| Care level | Beginner-friendly with correct set-up |
| Morphs | Hundreds — colour/pattern lines of one species |

## Scientific classification
- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Reptilia
- **Order:** Squamata
- **Family:** Eublepharidae
- **Genus:** Eublepharis
- **Species:** Eublepharis macularius

## Conservation status
- **Status:** Least Concern in the wild. Pet morphs are captive-bred colour and pattern lines, not separate species.
- **Population:** Widespread across its South Asian range
- **Trend:** Stable; pet trade largely captive-bred
- **Assessed:** 2021
- **CITES:** Not listed
- Never release pet reptiles into the wild — they can spread disease and harm native wildlife.

## Key facts: Leopard Gecko
- Leopard geckos have movable eyelids and no sticky toe pads — they walk, not climb.
- Wild leopard geckos are spotted yellow and Least Concern across South Asia.
- Hundreds of morphs are captive-bred colour and pattern lines of one species.
- They store fat in their tails and can drop the tail to escape predators.
- Correct heat and dietary calcium prevent metabolic bone disease.
- The Enigma morph carries a neurological 'Enigma syndrome' welfare risk.

## Wild leopard geckos of South Asia
Eublepharis macularius lives in the rocky, arid and semi-desert country of Afghanistan, Pakistan, north-west India and parts of Iran. It shelters by day and emerges at dusk to hunt insects, using its keen eyes and (unusually for geckos) blinking eyelids. The thick tail stores fat as an energy reserve for lean times, and a threatened gecko can shed (autotomise) its tail to escape, regrowing a shorter, blunter one.

Wild leopard geckos are spotted yellow — camouflage among stones — and are listed Least Concern. The pet trade today is overwhelmingly captive-bred rather than wild-caught.

## Morphs are line-bred, not separate species
Since the 1990s, breeders have produced hundreds of leopard gecko morphs — colour and pattern lines such as High Yellow, Tangerine, the three albino strains, Mack Snow, Blizzard, Hypo and Patternless — by selecting single genes or breeding lines. They are all one species, Eublepharis macularius, and all have identical care needs.

Some morphs carry welfare problems: the Enigma morph is linked to a neurological condition (Enigma syndrome) causing balance and coordination issues, so it is widely avoided by welfare-minded keepers. Responsible buyers research a morph's genetics, not just its looks.

## Housing, heat and diet
Leopard geckos need a secure floor-space vivarium with a warm end (a basking surface around 28–30°C) and a cooler end, several hides including a humid hide to aid shedding, and a non-loose substrate to avoid gut impaction. Current best practice provides low-level UVB plus calcium and vitamin D3, even though these crepuscular geckos can also obtain D3 from the diet.

They eat live insects — crickets, dubia roaches, the occasional waxworm treat — dusted with calcium. Clean water must always be available. Correct temperatures are essential for digestion as well as comfort.

## Health and responsible keeping
The commonest leopard gecko problems are largely preventable: metabolic bone disease from too little calcium or incorrect lighting, gut impaction from loose substrate or oversized prey, retained shed (dysecdysis) from low humidity, and tail loss from rough handling. A correct set-up and gentle handling prevent most of them.

Responsible keeping means buying captive-bred animals from breeders who avoid welfare-linked morphs, never releasing reptiles into the wild, and planning for an animal that can live 10–20 years or more. A reptile vet should see any gecko that stops eating, loses weight or shows tremors.

## Explore leopard gecko morphs on WARN
WARN's leopard gecko morph library at /wildlife-guides/leopard-gecko covers selectively bred colour and pattern lines — including the Normal wild type, the Tremper Albino, the Mack Snow and the Blizzard, with further morphs added as suitable human-free photos are sourced — each with how the colour or pattern is inherited, adult size, husbandry and common health issues.

The library helps keepers understand that every morph is the same species with the same needs — and which traits to avoid on welfare grounds.

## Leopard Gecko Morphs Guide
From the Normal wild type to the Tremper Albino, Mack Snow and Blizzard — explore popular leopard gecko morphs, how each colour and pattern is inherited, and the heat, diet and calcium this hardy beginner reptile needs.

Full morph library (4 guides): https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/leopard-gecko#breeds

- **Normal (Wild Type):** The natural form — yellow with black spots and a banded juvenile pattern. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/leopard-gecko/normal
- **Tremper Albino:** One of three albino strains — brown-on-pale markings and pale eyes. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/leopard-gecko/tremper-albino
- **Mack Snow:** A co-dominant morph that hatches white-and-black, fading to silvery tones. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/leopard-gecko/mack-snow
- **Blizzard:** A patternless recessive morph in solid white, yellow or grey. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/leopard-gecko/blizzard

## What WARN does
WARN publishes free reptile-welfare education. Leopard geckos are among the most-kept pet reptiles, and good husbandry — correct heat, calcium and diet — prevents most suffering. Honest guides also steer keepers away from welfare-linked morphs and the release of pet reptiles into the wild.

If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.

## Frequently asked questions: Leopard Gecko
### Are leopard gecko morphs different species?
No. Every leopard gecko is the same species, Eublepharis macularius. Morphs are selectively bred colour and pattern lines produced by single genes or line-breeding, and all share the same care needs.

### Are leopard geckos good for beginners?
Yes, they are among the most beginner-friendly reptiles — small, calm, hardy and long-lived — provided the keeper sets up correct heating, a varied calcium-dusted insect diet and proper hides before buying.

### How long do leopard geckos live?
With correct husbandry, leopard geckos commonly live 10 to 20 years, and some males considerably longer. Poor husbandry, especially low calcium or wrong temperatures, causes metabolic bone disease and shortens life.

### Do leopard geckos need UVB?
They can survive on dietary vitamin D3, but current best practice provides low-level UVB plus calcium and D3 supplementation, alongside a warm basking zone and a cooler end of the vivarium.

### What is the Enigma morph and Enigma syndrome?
The Enigma morph is linked to a neurological condition causing circling, head-tilting and balance problems. Because of this welfare risk, many keepers and welfare advocates avoid breeding it.

### Where can I read about leopard gecko morphs?
WARN's leopard gecko guide links to a morph library covering colour and pattern lines such as the normal, Tremper albino, Mack snow and blizzard, with more added as images are sourced — each with husbandry and health notes.

## Sources
- [IUCN Red List — Eublepharis macularius](https://www.iucnredlist.org/)
- [RSPCA — leopard gecko care](https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/other/geckos)
- [VCA Hospitals — leopard geckos](https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/leopard-geckos-general)

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Full guide: https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/leopard-gecko