Sit outside for an evening meal or cocktail in Thailand and you’ll quickly spot geckos darting across the walls. They eat mosquitos and other small insects, so they’re very welcome company.

Are geckos’ feet sticky?

No!

Pure magic or straight science? Here’s what to tell the kids.

The bottom of a gecko’s foot has millions of tiny fibres - they’re microscopic - that, together, create a very small electrical charge. This force helps a gecko adhere to any surface they choose, even when upside down.

This discovery is relatively recent - read more and see photos of gecko feet under a microscope on BBC’s Science & Tech.

3 more gecko facts

• Worldwide, there are more than 2,000 types of gecko
• Almost all types of geckos lack eyelids
• Geckos can stick to any surface except Teflon

We think you’ll enjoy watching geckos’ antics during your visit to Koh Samui. If you have a reptile fascination and a strong stomach, the Samui Snake Farm might pique your interest. Read more on our Koh Samui things to do page, under Samui excursions (”Things That Bite”).

With love,
  Koh Samui Sunset

Filed under: (Plants) Animals, too by admin