The leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is easily among the most popular pet reptiles in the world, and perhaps the most popular pet lizard. Entire industries exist that are dedicated to producing leopard geckos in the hundreds of different selectively bred color morphs they’re now available in and it’s unlikely that you’ll ever walk into a pet shop that doesn’t have them. Indeed, they are one of the few reptiles that can be considered domesticated. Their popularity is well earned too. Leopard geckos are modestly sized, and easy to handle, care for, and breed, making them one of the best pet reptiles for beginners.
Safari Ltd. has been on a roll with their reptile figures in their Incredible Creatures line over the last couple of years. Last year we got a crested gecko (another popular pet reptile) and green anaconda and now this year we’re getting the previously reviewed tuatara and this leopard gecko. One must wonder if the recent glut of reptiles might have something to do with Safari Ltd. products now being available at PetCo pet stores but whatever the reason, we’re all for it here on the Animal Toy Blog.
In the wild leopard geckos are found in rocky, dry grasslands and deserts in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. And being adapted to these inhospitable places is part of what makes them hardy pets too. Leopard geckos belong to the Eublepharidae family of geckos which unlike most other geckos lack adhesive toepads and possess eyelids, giving the family the common name “eyelid geckos”. Leopard geckos are largely nocturnal, hunting for invertebrate prey at night and seeking shelter in burrows and rocky crevices during the day.
The Safari Ltd. leopard gecko measures about 7” (17.78 cm) in length while the actual leopard gecko can reach 11” (27.94 cm) but average around 7”, making the Safari figure 1/1 in scale. The Safari gecko is presented “on the prowl” with its belly lifted off the ground and its body in an undulating S curve. Anyone that has watched a leopard gecko hunt will recognize this stance. Hunting leopard geckos are positively adorable, they stalk their prey like a cat and often shake their tail while they gear up to pounce. It’s a beautifully dynamic pose that can be appreciated from multiple angles.
Leopard geckos get their name for their yellow coloration and black spots, which is nicely reproduced here. On the Safari figure the black spots are confined to clustered bands on the head, torso, and tail. The level of spotting can vary, and some leopard geckos have heavier spotting across the body than what we see here, but this figure is not unrealistic. Sometimes the spots are concentrated in bands like this. The underside, toes, and tail are a blend of pale pink and white. The eyes are grey with black, slit pupils. They are painted with a shiny finish that makes them appear wet and lifelike. The paint application is excellent overall.
Fine details are incredibly well done on this figure. The skin is wrinkled and somewhat saggy, with fine scales, and raised protuberances distributed throughout. It looks like how a real leopard gecko feels; soft yet bumpy. Labial scales are sculpted along the lips and visible ear openings are present as well. Every portion of the body has a different look and texture that accurately represents the leopard gecko.
The tail has a somewhat segmented look, with deep grooves running down its length. In life the tail is used for fat storage, and you can gauge the health of a leopard gecko by the thickness of its tail. This one looks to be a healthy specimen. In life, leopard geckos are capable of caudal autotomy. They can drop their tails and regrow them, although regrown tails never look the same as the original.
The only things that appear to be missing are claws on the end of the digits and a cloaca. The claws would be admittedly tiny so aren’t really missed here. I mostly bring this up because last year’s crested gecko did have claws and a cloaca. Their absence really doesn’t detract from the figure for me.
Overall, the Safari leopard gecko is another outstanding figure from Safari and if you loved last year’s crested gecko, you’ll probably love this one too. Being life sized makes it an ideal subject for dioramas and educational purposes, or an alternative to a real leopard gecko. I like this recent trend from Safari of making popular pet reptiles and I hope they keep it up. Maybe next we can get a giant Madagascar day gecko, or satanic leaf-tailed gecko, or re-release their tokay gecko! The Safari leopard gecko is not yet available but will be on Safari’s website shortly, it will retail for $14.99.
Lastly, I would like to extend my gratitude towards Safari Ltd. for kindly sending along this figure as a review sample.
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A wonderful addition. The details on this figure really remind me of AAA reptiles or some of safari’s older cast figures. Very well done.
Yes they do, I hope Safari continues this reptile trend.
Is Gorgo names after my favorite Big Ben-smashing sea monster? 😀
Of course! Most of my animals reference movies or books in their names. Reptilicus the kingsnake, Jonsey the cat, Ogopogo the legless lizard, Shelob the turantula, and Turok the chuckwalla among others. I used to have a mountain horned dragon named Gwangi and a mud turtle named Gamera but they’ve passed. No Godzilla though, and I might not use that one, I prefer the more obscure stuff.
What an absolutely gorgeous replica! This is almost certainly one of Safari’s very best reptile toys. I eagerly await its release and hope it sells like gangbusters!