Why are geckos nocturnal?

There are many evolutionary advantages for lizards to become nocturnal, such as having fewer sharp-eyed bird predators to avoid, an abundance of nocturnal insect prey to exploit and less competition with other, diurnal, lizards. read more

The eye - actually, to be more specific, the retinae, of a gecko is the reason why geckos are nocturnal. It's rather complicated to explain, but to make it short, the reason why geckos are nocturnal is due mostly the arrangement of cones and rods in the eye of a gecko. read more

The nocturnal geckos evolved from diurnal species which had lost the eye rods. The gecko eye therefore modified its cones that increased in size into different types both single and double. Three different photopigments have been retained and are sensitive to UV, blue, and green. read more

Moorish geckos (Tarentola mauritanica), sometimes called crocodile geckos, are primarily nocturnal but are sometimes seen basking during the day. These lizards reach about 6 inches in length and are native to South Europe and North Africa, but they have been introduced to Florida, and at least one specimen has been found in California. read more