Meet Our Resident
Nubs and Ophelia are an expressive, soft-footed gecko that delights visitors by leaping from branch to branch. Gentle and curious, this arboreal species exhibits the distinctive “eyelash” crests above its eyes that give it a charismatic appearance.

Connections to the Museum
The Crested Gecko connects visitors to the concept of rediscovery in conservation. Believed extinct for decades, its 1994 rediscovery parallels stories of resilience found in Burpee’s fossil record—species that vanish and reappear through the cycles of Earth’s history.

Natural History & Behavior
Crested Geckos are nocturnal climbers adapted to rainforest life. They use specialized toe pads for adhesion, allowing them to climb glass and leaves alike. They are omnivorous, consuming both insects and fruit. Unlike many lizards, they cannot regrow their tails—an adaptation trade-off for agility and climbing efficiency.

Evolutionary Connections
Members of the Diplodactylidae family, Crested Geckos are ancient offshoots within gecko evolution. Their rediscovery underscores how isolated islands act as time capsules for evolutionary experimentation, preserving genetic diversity similar to that of extinct fossil forms.

Wild Habitat & Distribution
Endemic to southern New Caledonia’s tropical forests, these geckos inhabit canopy vegetation and shrubs, avoiding dry or coastal zones.

Conservation & Status
Although now bred widely in captivity, wild populations remain at risk from habitat loss and invasive predators. Burpee’s captive-bred Crested Gecko serves as a hopeful example of how awareness and breeding programs can rescue species once presumed lost.