The answer to whether geckos possess teeth is a definitive yes, though their dental arrangement is markedly different from that of mammals. Geckos are known for unique biological features, such as specialized toe pads that allow them to cling to almost any surface. This adaptability extends to their mouths, which house a specialized dental structure optimized for their diet and constant growth. Understanding this unique anatomy offers insight into the evolutionary history of reptiles and their ability to maintain a perpetually sharp bite.
The Physical Structure of Gecko Teeth
Geckos exhibit pleurodonty, a type of tooth attachment where the teeth are fused to the inner surface of the jawbone rather than being set into sockets, like human teeth. This attachment is asymmetrical, with the teeth cemented to the bone’s side wall. This structure provides a strong, fixed point for the tooth but limits the jaw’s ability to grind or chew food.
The teeth are numerous, small, and sharp; some species possess over 100 teeth lining their jaws. These teeth are conical or bicuspid, meaning they have a single point or two small cusps. Their uniform shape across the jaw is suited for piercing and holding, contrasting with the varied teeth (incisors, canines, molars) found in mammals. The pleurodont arrangement ensures the teeth are fixed and function primarily as a gripping tool.
How Geckos Replace Their Teeth
The most remarkable feature of gecko dentition is continuous, lifelong tooth replacement, a process called polyphyodonty. Geckos maintain a perpetual supply of sharp teeth through an organized regenerative cycle, unlike humans who replace teeth only once. New teeth develop from the dental lamina, a specialized tissue located on the tongue-side of the existing functional tooth.
The developing tooth grows next to the older tooth, and as it mineralizes, it begins to resorb the base of the functional tooth. This process weakens the older tooth’s attachment until it is pushed out and replaced by the successional tooth. Replacement occurs in alternating patterns, or “waves,” along the jaw, ensuring the process is not random.
This highly regulated system ensures that adjacent teeth are never replaced simultaneously, which helps maintain a constantly functional set of teeth for feeding. The replacement cycle for any single tooth position averages about once every 6.5 weeks. This allows a gecko to replace its entire dentition multiple times a year, a rapid turnover rate that is faster than in other reptiles.
Feeding Behavior and Tooth Function
The function of gecko teeth is directly related to their predatory nature, with their primary role being to capture and secure prey. Geckos are opportunistic hunters that primarily consume insects and other invertebrates. Since they lack the ability to chew, their teeth are not used for grinding food into smaller pieces. The small, sharp, numerous teeth serve to grip slippery or hard-bodied prey, preventing escape before the gecko swallows it whole.