Tiny gecko on leaf spear

© Darren Greenwood/Alam

Tiny gecko on leaf spear

When trying to draw attention to lizards, you don't want to lead off with a Gila monster, a monitor lizard, or even the relatively common (but still off-putting) iguana. Nope, what you want front and centre is a cute little gecko like the one we see here. Geckos come in varying sizes across 1,500 species and are unique among lizards for their vocalisations for mating, distress and various social interactions.

But, did you know that these reptiles are threatened worldwide? As both predators and prey, they are a critical part of ecosystems. So, today let's think about our scaled friends, and if you're thinking about getting a pet, why not a lizard? Leopard geckos and bearded dragons are considered to be the most beginner-friendly lizards to own.