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GECKO on the WALL T I V I T Fun Facts and C A Gecko on the Wall – Facts and Activities Danielle Bruckert Danielle Activities and Facts Fun theWALL on GECKO Gecko Facts Geckos are part of the lizard family of reptiles. That means: All geckos are lizards, but... not all lizards are geckos! The reptile family: ● Are cold blooded (we are warm blooded) ● Breathe air (just like us) ● Have scales (just like fish) ● Lay eggs (just like chickens) The lizards family of reptiles includes all reptiles which have over-lapping scales, except snakes and tuataras. Lizards usually have external ears and feet. What makes Geckos Different from other Lizards? Defying Gravity Just like the gecko in the book, nearly all geckos can climb tall towers and castle walls – they can even climb shiny mirrors and teflon pans. They have hundreds of tiny sticky things on their feet. Gecko Sounds Geckos are the only reptile to sing a tune. Their name comes from the sound they make. The chirping, clicking, barking sound. Other Gecko Special Talents Most geckos do not have eyelids: They clean their eyes with their tongue. Most geckos have the special talent of being able to regenerate their tails. Gecko Diet Most Geckos are carnivores. Carnivores are animals that only eat meat. They eat insects, like flies, mosQuitos, and cockroaches. (A gecko would be good to have around the house as a pet!). A few geckos are herbivores. Herbivores are animals that only eat fruit, leaves and plants. (We are omnivores. We eat meat, fruit and vegetables.) Gecko Colours Geckos are usually green or brown like the trees and the bushes Some geckos from the tropical rain forests have pretty oranges, blues, and reds. Others have special patterns, like the leopard gecko, which looks like a leopard, or the electric blue gecko, which has a beautiful blue colour on its body. Gecko Size Some geckos are very small, 2.5cm (one inch) about the size of a pencil rubber, like the dwarf gecko, Some geckos are much bigger, 50cm (20 inches) the length of a scooter, like the tokay gecko. Gecko Habitat Geckos live in warm places like Africa, Asia, India, the Southern States of America, and Northern parts of South America, Australia and northern parts of New Zealand. Geckos are usually nocturnal (night) animals. They prefer to come out at night, and sleep during the day. Types of Gecko There are around 1500 different types of gecko! There was not enough room to show you all 1500, but here are a few of them: The flying gecko glides through the air using its stomach, webbed feet, legs and tail. The leaf tailed gecko is good at disguises. The leopard gecko has spots just like the real leopard. They are one of the only gecko species which can't walk on walls. Although the crested gecko has no eyelids he does have eyelashes The gold dust day gecko is a day gecko. His mummy makes him go to sleep at night while all the other geckos are out having fun. Day geckos are usually omnivores. The tokay gecko is one of the biggest geckos at around 60cm. // The dwarf gecko is one of the smallest geckos at around 2.5cm. The palmato gecko lives in the Namibian desert in Africa, it has webbed feet to help it run on the hot sand. Gecko Activities Draw a Gecko The easiest gecko to draw is the gecko on the wall – he has an oval shaped head, and a bigger oval shaped body, with a long pointed tail, and four stubby feet that look a bit like hands. Nature Journal Find some geckos around the house and garden, or in books, magazines, on the internet, and/or sketch your own. Create a journal or scrapbook of what you have found, write in interesting facts about your findings or or articles. Decorate Geckos Use paints, pens and pencils, glue and pieces of coloured paper, small beads, glitter, and colour in or decorate the geckos on the following pages with different patterns and textures. Gecko Magnet Colour, and decorate the small geckos on the following pages. Glue magnets or magnetic strip to the back of the card. If durability is desired, use lightweight card or laminate, and/or cover with clear plastic adhesive shee or wide tape. The geckos can be used as plain fridge magnets, or in a variety of games and placeholder functions. Sew a Gecko Enlarge to the right size, then trace around the gecko on the last page to make a pattern for sewing (be creative with the lines). Trace around the pattern on material, and cut ½ a cm from the line. Sew together on the line, face in. Leave a small hole for filling. Turn the gecko inside out, and decorate the top of the animal with buttons, beads, and thread for the eyes, toes, and pattern. Stuff and sew the gecko closed. Note: rice, dried beans or grain can make a nice textured toy. .
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