Peas in a pod! Brilliant images capture an adorable gecko GRINNING with joy as he plays with a plastic lookalike toy - and the internet can't get enough

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The internet can't contain its love for an adorable gecko and his new best friend - a toy that just happens to look exactly like him.

In photos posted to the Instagram account 589_tomo, a yellow and pink leopard gecko named Kohaku can be seen smiling with joy as be plays, snuggles, and naps with his lookalike toy. 

Tons of Instagram users have been leaving comments wondering where they can get their hands on a similar toy - but Kohaku's owner says the toy might be hard to get, as it comes from a humble vending machine somewhere in Japan. 

Friends forever! Kohaku, a leopard gecko living in Japan, recently bonded with Chinmari, the tiny toy that looks just like him

All smiles! In pictures of the pair, Kohaku actually appears to be grinning from ear to ear - that's how much he loves his new buddy

Solo no more: Leopard geckos can be tricky to house together, but it looks like Kohaku's owner found the perfect solution to his need for companionship

Still, that hasn't stopped animal lovers from across the globe from expressing their love for Kohaku and his tiny friend, who appears to be named 'Chinmari.' 

'Such a cutie!' exclaimed one comment. 'How is he dealing with his newfound fame?' asked another. Judging by Kohaku's smiley snapshots, he appears to be doing just fine. 

Aside from being an adorable Instagram photo-opportunity, Chinmari is also the perfect cohabitant for Kohaku. 

Pet experts agree that housing two geckos together can be a tricky business. Two male geckos in the same enclosure will cause sparring - and even male and female geckos who are housed together must be raised in complete separation. 

Chinmari is the perfect companion as it provides Kohaku with companionship while ensuring the gecko remains physically safe. 

Cozy! Sometimes, Kohaku and Chinmari enjoy taking a nap together

Cuddle buddies: Chimari certainly doesn't seem to mind when Kohaku snuggles up to him

On the lookout: When they're not snoozing, Kohaku and Chinmari can be found scouting out the scene

Until recently, Kohaku's Instagram was simply a passion project. His pictures received, on average, about 250 likes each and just a handful of comments. 

Since Chinmari came into the picture, Kohaku's adorable pictures have skyrocketed to viral fame, with his more recent snapshots receiving thousands and thousands of likes.

Of course, fame often comes with its downsides. 

Many have criticized Kohaku's owner for keeping him in an enclosure that has a sand floor; there appears to be a great debate in the gecko-owning community about whether sand floors are potentially hazardous for the reptiles, with many believing that accidental sand ingestion can lead to a variety of health problems.

Photogenic! If there were such a thing as a lizard models, Kohaku and Chimari would be a regular Bella and Gigi Hadid

Playful! Kohaku seems to have a friendly and curious personality, and seems like he loves posing with his miniature friend

Photobomb! Sometimes Chinmari accidentally appears in Kohaku's picture - but the lizard clearly doesn't mind

Despite the slew of critiques, Kohaku's owner insists they will continue to use the sand enclosure for the gecko, as he enjoys digging through the shifting surface. Furthermore, they say that feeding Kohaku with tweezers prevents the gecko from swallowing sand. 

Others were left wondering - though Kohaku's Instagram appear to show him 'smiling' - can lizards actually experience joyful emotion? While definitive results are inconclusive (and will remain so until someone invents a lizard mind-reading device), animal scientists seem to agree that lizards, and reptiles in general, can express 'pleasure.'

Dr. Sharman Hoppes, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences told the school's Pet Talk blog that, from an evolutionary standpoint, love an happiness are not emotions that benefit a reptile's need to survive. 

Content! While some question whether a lizard can feel or express happiness, others are certain of this reptiles loving feelings for Chinmari

Love on the brain: Pet experts say that a lizard expresses its happiness when it appears calm and relaxed, just like Kohaku in this picture

Humble beginnings: Even though Chinmari came from a humble vending machine, Kohaku certainly couldn't be happier with his new friend

Yet, he can't deny certain responses in reptiles - particularly those in captivity. 

'I don't know if it is love,' said Dr. Hoppes, 'but lizards and tortoises appear to like some people more than others. They also seem to show the most emotions, as many lizards do appear to show pleasure when being stroked.'

Herpetologist Dr. Greg Pauly told The Dodo that interpreting lizard emotions can be particularly difficult as, when it comes to expressing pleasure, they have no behavioral equivalent to a dog wagging its tail or a cat purring. 

Still, Dr. Pauly said the most 'widespread "positive behavior" would simply be that a lizard appears calm. If an animal is resting, not breathing rapidly, and not engaging in any defensive behaviors then this is all positive.'

Thus, if little Kohaku is peacefully snuggling up to his mini-me, one can assume he feels pretty good about it.