Lydia Shedding

A few weeks ago, our Animal Caretakers and a few lucky visitors were able to witness something really special (and really cute!). Lydia, our adorable leopard gecko, was shedding! Luckily for you, one of our caretakers, Brianna Todd, had a video camera on hand, and was able to capture some of this remarkable activity.




Did you know that every animal sheds their skin? Even humans??? Humans, like most mammals, shed their skin pretty much constantly. Tiny particles of skin are sloughed from our skin all day long, although you may only notice it when you have dry, itchy skin or a sunburn. But check out that dust you’re collecting on the top of your book shelf or even on your coffee table, and you’ll find plenty of evidence for human shedding. A good portion of the dust that exists in our homes is made up of dead skin cells! Kind of gross right?

Lizards and snakes also shed their skin, although they actually make less of a mess than we humans. Because their skin is made up of scales, these reptiles must shed their skin all at once. In snakes, the shed skin will often come off in one piece. Because lizards have legs, it’s a little bit harder for them to shed in one piece, so it usually comes off in large pieces.

Many lizard species, including leopard geckos, eat their old skin as they pull it off. This may sound kind of gross but it’s actually another great adaptation. Not only does it leave no mess behind, it’s an efficient way for the animal to consume those extra vitamins and calories that are in their old skin.

But that’s enough talk for now. The video really says it all. So check it out, and the next time you visit Lydia at Pacific Science Center, congratulate her on a job well done.