> Perhaps it's strictly an American thing. If so, my question for the American readers relates to what these school mascots *do*. Are we talking about giant costumes at your sports games, or a picture on the school logo, or what? Since American schools don't usually have school uniforms, I'm ruling out the idea that it's the picture on the badge, which (if it incorporates an animal or plant) is the closest thing schools get to a mascot here.

US school mascots are devised for a variety of reasons: historical integrity, school pride, merchandising, selecting a costume for the guy to walk up and down the field in...

> Yes, and geckos are reptiles. I recognise geckos extremely well, both entire and moving quickly, or in handy kitset form with several pieces missing. This is what you get for having a cat.

Adam "wonders which school, if any, has a gecko for a mascot" Bomb