Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got into a conversation the other day and was asked what it is about Leopard Geckos that make them geckos at all. The best description I can find of Gekkonidae is that most don't have eyelids and that they have adhesive "toepads". Leopard Geckos (and the rest of their subfamily -- the eyelid geckos) have eyelids and do not have adhesive toepads. What is it, then, that makes them a gecko? I agree that they do have the general look of a gecko but that's not a very solid answer to a valid question. Any input would be appreciated

Im quoting here:
"In general, geckos may be divided into 2 primary groups: species with immovable, or fixed, eyelids (Gekkoninae, Teratoscincinae, and Diplodactylinae), and species which possess a movable eyelid (Aleuroscalabotinae & Eublepharinae). Geckos which possess fixed eyelids can be further divided on the basis of the presence (arboreal), or lack of presence (generally terrestrial), of sub-digital lamellae. Normally, the tail length of most gecko species is nearly equal to the snout-vent length and is expressed in a great variety of textures, shapes, and sizes. Additionally, the presence of either round pupils (diurnal) or vertically oriented pupils (nocturnal) helps to distinguish several genera. A number of arboreal species exhibit a stunning degree of beautiful green, red, and blue coloration (notably, species of Phelsuma and Naultinus). Finally, scalation characteristics range from the tile-like network (smooth, cycloid, imbricate) to be found on Teratoscincus, Geckolepis, and Teratolepis, to among some of the most minute, velvety-textured, granular scales exhibited in several Oedura species"
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4.7.0 Leopard Geckos
0.2. Homonota Darwinii (Talus & Gracilis)
2.3.3 Tarentola Mauritanica (Pickles)
0.1.0 Cham Caliptratus (Clotilde)
0.0.1 Corn Snake
1.0.0 Golden Retriever (Cafu)
1.0.0 Black cat (Felipe)
0.0.x Tenebrio Molitor
0.0.x Zoophoba Mario
0.0.x Lobster Roaches
0.0.6 A. Campestratus
0.0.1 E. Musculosa

Anatomically speaking:
quote: "From our understanding, geckos are characterized by the following:
"
*have pleurodont teeth on the lower jaw.
*posses 1-3 sternal ribs.
*usually have amphicoelous vertebrae.
*posses skulls that lack temporal and postorbital arches.
*lack palatal teeth.
*usually posses cloacal bones.
*usually have fixed clutch sizes (of one or two eggs/clutch).
"
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4.7.0 Leopard Geckos
0.2. Homonota Darwinii (Talus & Gracilis)
2.3.3 Tarentola Mauritanica (Pickles)
0.1.0 Cham Caliptratus (Clotilde)
0.0.1 Corn Snake
1.0.0 Golden Retriever (Cafu)
1.0.0 Black cat (Felipe)
0.0.x Tenebrio Molitor
0.0.x Zoophoba Mario
0.0.x Lobster Roaches
0.0.6 A. Campestratus
0.0.1 E. Musculosa

Well that pretty much takes care of my question. Thanks a bunch!