Gecko

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/gecko

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Infraorder Gekkota
2. What is the diet?Primarily insectivorous and carnivorous, consuming invertebrates and, in larger species, small vertebrates
3. How do geckos stick to walls and ceilings?Their toes have tiny hair‑like structures called setae that split into even smaller spatulae. These spatulae fit into the tiny bumps on surfaces, and the tiny forces between them (Van der Waals forces) let the gecko cling without glue.
4. Where can you find geckos around the world?Geckos live on every continent except Antarctica. They can be seen in deserts, rainforests, woodlands, and even in cities.

Setae and Spatulae: Microscopic structures on gecko feet that facilitate adhesion through intermolecular forces.
Caudal Autotomy: The voluntary shedding of a tail as a defense mechanism against predators.
Biomimicry: The design and production of materials, structures, and systems that are modeled on biological entities and processes.