Gecko Margouillat Salamandre Wall Mounted 60cm - Multicoloured Red Glass Mosaic

Why can gecko walk on ceiling?

The gecko is a fascinating animal, which has the ability to walk on ceilings and walls, thanks to its legs with millions of microscopic hairs, called setae.

These bristles are so fine and numerous that they allow the gecko to stick to even the smoothest surfaces, creating an electrostatic adhesive force. This force is created by the attraction between the positive and negative electric charges of the molecules of the setae and the surfaces. It has the scientific name "van der Waals force", named after the Dutch physicist Johannes Diderik van der Waals, who discovered it in the 19th century.

When the gecko walks, its legs create a succession of back-and-forth motions that allow it to move quickly and efficiently over vertical and horizontal surfaces. The setae stick and peel off the surface with each step, creating grip and traction that allows the gecko to move with great agility.