Geckos and lizards are reptiles belonging to the order Squamata. These reptiles are found in hot and warm climates and are abundant worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- Gecko is a type of lizard with adhesive toe pads, while a lizard refers to a group of reptiles characterized by their scaly skin and ability to shed their tails.
- Gecko is primarily nocturnal and can climb smooth surfaces, while lizard can be diurnal or nocturnal and has various physical features depending on the species.
- Gecko is kept as a pet due to their unique appearance, while lizard is less commonly kept than a pet.
Gecko vs Lizard
Geckos possess a unique characteristic of making chirping sounds and are known for vocalizations, but lizards lack this unique feature or element. Geckos keep broad toes, but lizards are known to possess clawed feet.
Geckos are known to be originated from North Africa and later on spread to the Canary Islands, southern France, and South Pacific islands. The types of geckos which are kept as pets are Leopard Geckos and Crested Geckos.
Lizards‘ origin can be traced back to 200 million years when they evolved with reptiles. The types of lizards kept as pets include iguanas, monitor lizards and bearded dragons.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Gecko | Lizard |
|---|---|---|
| Order and Class | Order Squamata and class Reptilia. | Order Squamata and class Sauropsida. |
| Species Count | 1196 variety of species of geckos is found globally. | Around 3800 arrays of species of lizards are found on earth. |
| Lifespan | The lifespan of the geckos is 5 to 7 years. | The lifespan of the lizards is 1 to 3 years. |
| Venomous | Geckos are not venomous. But recently, some varieties of geckos have been found which are venomous. | Until now, only two out of all the existing varieties of lizards are venomous. |
| Food | Geckos feed on butterflies, cockroaches, crickets, beetles and millipedes, Caledonian geckos, mice, young lizards, and small birds. | Lizards sustain themselves by eating various foods, like insects, carrion, fruits and vegetation, etc. |
| Origin | Geckos are known to be originated from North Africa and later on spread to the Canary Islands, southern France, and South Pacific islands. | Lizards’ origin can be traced back to 200 million years when they evolved with reptiles. |
| Pets | The types of geckos that are kept as pets are Leopard Geckos and Crested Geckos. | The types of lizards kept as pets include tegus, iguanas, monitor lizards and bearded dragons. |
| Vocalization | Geckos possess the unique characteristic of making chirping sounds. | Lizards lack this characteristic. |
| Appearance | Geckos possess broad toes. | Lizards possess clawed feet. |
| Skin Texture | Geckos are known for having thin skin with small bumps-like features on the skin. | The majority of lizards have scaly and dry skin. |
What is a Gecko?
Geckos belong to the order Squamata and class Reptilia. Geckos can be seen in hot climates globally and are short to average-sized lizards.
Between May to August, the gecko in the female house lays four to five pairs of eggs. The lifespan of the geckos is 5 to 7 years.
Geckos are not venomous. But recently, some varieties of geckos have been found which are venomous.
What is a Lizard?
Lizards belong to the order Squamata and class Sauropsida. Lizards are reptiles with movable eyelids, four legs and ear openings that are externally visible. Lizards are cold-blooded and possess scaly skin, four legs and movable eyelids.
A minority of lizards lay their eggs inside a nest. While other lizards give birth to young lizards, and the eggs hatch inside their body.
The lifespan of the lizards is 1 to 3 years. In the case of lizards, until now, only two out of all the existing varieties of lizards are venomous.
Main Differences Between a Gecko and a Lizard
- Geckos belong to the order Squamata and class Reptilia. At the same time, lizards belong to the order Squamata and class Sauropsida.
- Geckos can be seen in hot climates globally and are short to average-sized lizards. In contrast, lizards are reptiles having movable eyelids, four legs and ear openings that are externally visible.
- Geckos possess broad toes, scaly skin, and vast eye pupils. Lizards are cold-blooded and possess scaly skin, four legs and movable eyelids.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006349505727284
- https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/115320
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️
Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
This article answered all of the questions I had about Geckos and lizards. Great job!
Geckos are fascinating creatures. The unique characteristic of making chirping sounds is really interesting to me.
I also find it very intriguing.
I agree, the characteristic of geckos making chirping sounds is indeed fascinating.
I appreciate the clear and concise comparison between Geckos and lizards. It’s a well-structured article.
I couldn’t agree more. The comparison is very well presented.
This is an interesting article, but I think it would benefit from more details and examples.
Even though the post provides some insights, I feel that it’s missing a more comprehensive analysis of Geckos and lizards.
Yes, a more comprehensive analysis would be very beneficial.
I agree. More in-depth information would enhance the quality of this article.
The post is very informative, but I disagree with the statement about lizards being less commonly kept than a pet.
I also think that statement is not accurate. I know many people who keep lizards as pets.
Very useful description on the differences between Geckos and lizards. Thank you for sharing.
I found it fascinating. I had no idea about the lifespan of these reptiles.
I had no idea that some varieties of geckos are venomous. I learned something new today.
I’m sorry, but this post seems overly simplistic and not well-researched. The differences between Geckos and lizards are much more complex than this.
I have to agree. This post oversimplifies the description of Geckos and lizards.
This was quite an eye-opening read. I never knew there were so many differences between Geckos and lizards.
I had a similar reaction. The comparison was very enlightening.