Tokay geckos (Gekkonidae: Gekko gecko) preferentially use substrates that elicit maximal adhesive performance

Adhesive Performance - Four Tokay geckos (Gekko gecko) were placed on three different, vertically-oriented substrates (glass, 80-grit sandpaper, 1000-grit sandpaper) and displaced parallel to the substrate to measure maximum shear adhesive force. Adhesion was measured pre- and post-partial claw clipping. Vertical Clinging - Five Tokay geckos (Gekko gecko) were placed on the same three vertical substrates and observed undisturbed for five minutes or until they left the substrate. We recorded the time they spent on the substrate, the number of repositionings per minute, whether slipping occurred, and whether they left the substrate.Substrate Use - 18 Tokay geckos (Gekko gecko) were placed into 10-gallon glass terraria with the walls covered with the three different substrates and cameras, programmed to take still images every 30 seconds, took images of the geckos to observe substrate use patterns. Geckos were observed for 24 hours. Substrate use is represented as proportion of the total time geckos spent on each of three substrates. Substrate Use (Glass Panels) - Substrate Use (Front Glass Removed) -