BBC Earth

Image: chrisheidenreich

Many animals have one superpower. Geckos are blessed with several.

Their eyes can distinguish colours by the light of the moon – conditions in which humans and most other animals are colour-blind. They can instantly shed their tail if they are caught by a predator, and then grow a new one: a skill beyond the powers of most animals with a backbone. And, most famously of all, they can walk effortlessly up walls and along ceilings – even though they may weigh as much as a small rodent.

Amazing though these skills are, they are no longer quite so mysterious as they once appeared. We have learned a great deal about how geckos evolved their impressive party tricks, and we have even begun to imitate some of the skills in our technology. Read more on the BBC Earth website…