With an estimated 2,000 species the family Gekkonidae is the most speciose of all lizard families. Geckos inhabit all continents except Antarctica where they are found in desert, temperate, subtropical and tropical conditions. They are relatively small lizards, ranging in size from ¾ inch (not surprisingly called the Dwarf Gecko, Sphaerodactylus ariasae) to over a foot long (Golden geckos, Gekko ulikovskii; Tokay geckos, Gekko gecko; New Caledonian Giant Gecko, Rhacodactylus leachianus). The former of these also holds the distinct honor of being the smallest reptile currently known to exist.

The name gecko is onomatopoeic and is believed to be derived from the Malaysian dialectical gekok, describing the native geckos’ vocalizations. Many geckos have highly specialized toes which allow them to climb walls, glass or virtually any other surface or to effectively scurry across sand. Many of the gecko family’s feet are so unusual that the majority of the genera names focus on their feet; two dozen genus names end in –dactylus from the ancient Greek, Daktylos, meaning fingers and toes.