Sometimes, a name says it all! In the case of the Madagascar giant day gecko, their name really does tell you so much about these animals. They are native to the island of Madagascar and are found only in a few areas of tropical forest in the Northeastern part of the island. This species does get quite large, with adult males sometimes reaching 12 inches in total length, from their nose to tip of their tail, though females are typically smaller than males. Day geckos are, of course, diurnal - they are most active during the day time and they run around on tree trunks and branches catching insects and other small invertebrates to eat. While animal protein makes up the majority of their diet, they will also eat soft fruits and nectar.

That just leaves the final part of the name - Gecko! Geckos are a large group of lizards know for their ability to climb smooth surfaces and appear to stick to almost anything. Their skin is soft compared to most other reptiles, and this species is typically bright green with red spots on their head and body (you might even recognize them from popular TV commercials for insurance). Don’t forget to check out those toes! Geckos have many tiny ridges on each toe pad, this extra surface area allows them to take advantage of a natural phenomenon knows as Van Der Waals forces. This physical force is what allows them to climb and stick to so many different surfaces.