Subfamily GEKKONINAE - Typical Geckos

Unidentified species from Costa Rica.

Note extreme small size of this Sphaerodactylus species (S. macrolepis or S. parthenopion). Picture by Kenneth Boone.

QUICK INDEX

S. altavelensis, Alto Velo Sphaero

S. argivus, Cayman Islands Sphaero

S. argus, Stippled Sphaero

S. armasi, Spotted Head Sphaero

S. armstrongi, Southern Forest Sphaero

S. asterulus, Haitian Stippled Sphaero

S. beattyi, St Croix Sphaero

S. becki, Navassa Sphaero

S. bromeliarum, Cuban Bromeliad Sphaero

S. caicosensis,

S. callocricus, Rough-Banded Sphaero

S. celicara, Baracoan Eyespot Sphaero

S. cinereus, Haitian Broad-Banded Sphaero

S. clenchi, Orange-Spotted Sphaero

S. cochranae, Haitises Striped Sphaero

S. copei, Haitian Big-Scaled Sphaero

S. corticola, Central Bahamas Sphaero

S. cricoderus, Turquino Collared Sphaero

S. cryphius, Desert Pygmy Sphaero

S. dacnicolor, Jamaican Tailspot Sphaero

S. darlingtoni, Northern Forest Sphaero

S. difficilis, Hispaniolan Eyespot Sphaero

S. docimus, Cabo Cruz Banded Sphaero

S. dunni,

S. elasmorhynchus, Snout Shield Sphaero

S. elegans, Ashy Sphaero

S. elegantulus, Antigua Bank Sphaero

S. epiurus, Hispaniolan Tailspot Sphaero

S. fantasticus, Southern Leeward Sphaero

S. gaigeae, Chevronated Sphaero

S. gilvitorques, Jamaican Collared Sphaero

S. glaucus, Dwarf Gecko

S. goniorhynchus, Jamaican Forest Sphaero

S. graptolaemus, Marked Throated Pygmy Gecko

S. heliconiae,

S. homolepis, Common Pygmy Gecko/ Brown Dwarf Gecko

S. inaguae, Inagua Sphaero

S. intermedius, North Coast Banded Sphaero

S. kirbyi, Bequia Sphaero

S. klauberi, Puerto Rican Upland Gecko

S. ladae, Spotted Algarve Sphaero

S. lazelli, Cap Haitien Sphaero

S. leucaster, Broken Stripe Sphaero

S. levinsi, Desecheo Gecko

S. lineolatus,

S. macrolepis, Common Puerto Rican Upland Gecko

S. mariguanae, Southern Bahamas Sphaero

S. microlepis, Saint Lucia Sphaero

S. micropithicus, Monito Gecko

S. millepunctatus,

S. molei,

S. monensis, Mona Gecko

S. nicholsi, Nichols' Crescent Sphaero

S. nigropunctatus, Cuban Three-Banded Sphaero

S. notatus, Reef Gecko/Brown Speckled Sphaero

S. nycteropus, Haitian Flat-Head Sphaero

S. ocoae, Ocoa Sphaero

S. oliveri, Escambay Spotted Sphaero

S. omoglaux, Haitian Border Sphaero

S. oxyrhinus, Jamaican Sharp-Nosed Sphaero

S. pacificus, Cocos Pygmy Gecko

S. parkeri, Parker's Banded Sphaero

S. parthenopion, Virgin Islands Dwarf Sphaero

S. perissodactylius, Martin Garcia Sphaero

S. pimienta, Pepper Sphaero

S. plummeri, Barahona Big-Scaled Sphaero

S. ramsdeni, Cuban Forest Sphaero

S. randi, Barahona Speckled Sphaero

S. rhabdotus, Two-Stripe Sphaero

S. richardi, Richard's Banded Sphaero

S. richardsonii, Richardson's Banded Sphaero

S. roosevelti, Roosevelt's Beige Sphaero

S. rosaurae,

S. rubeni, Gibara Banded

S. ruibali, Ruibal's Sphaero

S. sabanus, Northern Leeward Sphaero

S. samanensis, Haitises Banded Sphaero

S. savagei, Eastern Speckled Sphaero

S. scaber, Double Collared Sphaero

S. scapularis,

S. schuberti, Neiba Agave Sphaero

S. schwartzi, Guantamo Collared Sphaero

S. semasiops, Cockpit Eyespot Sphaero

S. shrevei, Northwest Blotched Sphaero

S. sommeri, Northwest Banded Sphaero

S. sputator, Leeward Banded Sphaero

S. storeyae, Isle of Pines Sphaero

S. streptophorus, Hispaniolan Small-Eared Sphaero

S. thompsoni, Barahona Limestone Sphaero

S. torrei, Cuban Broad-Banded Sphaero

S. townsendi, Townsend's Dwarf Sphaero

S. underwoodi, Turks Sphaero

S. vincenti, Central Lesser Antillean Sphaero

S. williamsi, Haitian Striped Sphaero

S. zygaenae, Tiburon Coastal Sphaero

S. "yvonne", Jaragua Sphaero

Scientific Name

Common Name

Distribution

Size

Notes

S. altavelensis

Alto Velo Sphaero

Hispaniola, Alta Velo, Dominican Republic, Haiti (Department de l'Ouest, Indepedencia Province), Ile a Cabrit

?"

?

S. a. brevirostratus

S. a. enriguilloensis

S. a. lucioi

S. argivus

Cayman Islands Sphaero

Bahamas, Cayman Brac, Antilles, Cayman-Islands (Little Cayman, Grand Cayman)

?"

?

S. a. bartschi

S. a. lewisi

S. argus

Stippled Sphaero/Ocellated Dwarf Gecko

USA (Florida, introduced) Antilles, San Andres Island (Colombia), Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas (Biminis and Nassau, introduced), Isla Grande de Maiz, Mexico (Yucatan, introduced), Nicaragua (Corn Island), Costa Rica, Panama

TL 5.8 cm, SVL approx 50% TL

Description: snout pointed, as long as the distance between the eye and the ear-opening, once and a half the diameter of the orbit; ear-opening small, oval, vertical. Scalation details: rostral moderately large, with longitudinal cleft above; nostril pierced between the rostral, the first labial, and three scales; five upper and as many lower labials, the anterior very long; mental large, truncate posteriorly, followed by granules larger than those on the throat. A small spine-like scale on the border of the upper eyelid, above the middle of the eye. Head and throat covered with very small granular scales, largest on the snout; back covered with medium-sized, flat, imbricate, keeled scales these dorsal scales about two thirds the size of the ventrals, which are smooth and imbricate. Tail: cylindrical, tapering, covered with imbricate smooth scales, the lower median series of which are enlarged. Coloration: pale brown above, with small, yellowish, dark-edged ocelli; on the head these ocelli are generally lengthened, and frequently more or less confluent into six longitudinal lines, which sometimes extend along the back. Lower surfaces whitish, the throat variegated with brown. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

S. a. andresensis

S. armasi

Spotted-Head Sphaero

SE Cuba (Cabo Mais, Baracoa, Provinces Oriente, Guantanamo)

?"

?

S. armstrongi

Southern Forest Sphaero

Dominican Republic, Hispaniola (Paradis/Brahona Province), Haiti

?"

?

S. a. hypsinephes

S. asterulus

Haitian Stippled Sphaero

Haiti

?"

?

S. beattyi

St Croix Sphaero

US Virgin Islands, St. Croix, Green Cay, Buck Island, Puerto Rican Bank

?"

?

S. b. seamani

S. becki

Navassa Sphaero

Navassa Island

?"

?

S. bromeliarum

Cuban Bromeliad Sphaero

Cuba (W. part of El Yunque de Baracoe, above Tabojó, 15 km west of Baracoe, Oriente Province)

?"

?

S. caicosensis

? Sphaero

Bahamas (South Caica, Long Cay), South Caicos Island

?"

?

S. callocricus

Rough-Banded Sphaero

Dominican Republic

?"

?

S. celicara

Baracoan Eyespot Sphaero

Cuba

?"

S. cinereus

Haitian Broad-Banded Sphaero

Antilles, Haiti (Jeremi), Cuba, USA, Hispaniola

?"

?

S. c. cinereus

S. c. stejnegeri

Details: dorsal scalation imbricate, smooth, 14-16 in standard distance between centre of eye and tip of snout; no differentiated middorsal zone.

S. clenchi

Orange-Spotted Sphaero

Dominican Republic

?"

?

S. c. apocoptus

S. cochranae

Haitises Striped Sphaero

Dominican Republic

?"

?

S. copei

Haitian Big-Scaled Sphaero

Haiti

SVL 4cm

See EMBL database entry for further details. Scalation: 0-3 internasals (mode 1), 3 supralabials; middorsal zone of granules and large keeled and imbricate dorsal scales; 14-22 dorsal scales between axilla and groin; 39-52 rows at midbody; gulars smooth; ventrals smooth and round, 24-32 between axiall and groin. Other: 10-17 fourth toe lamellae. Coloration: strong sexual dichromatism; (males) dorsally blue-grey, brown or greenish; scattered rusty and/or purplish-brown scales; head either yellow-green or vivid rusty-orange, heavy black reticulate pattern may be present (see subspecies); (females) dorsally pale- to blue-grey or dark brown; 1-4 dark transverse bands (obscure in some subspecies) that contain grey scales within; black nuchal collar with normally 4 white ocelli; head pattern of pale greenish or rich brown lines on drab blue-grey or grey background.

S. c. copei

Haiti

S. c. astreptus

Haiti

?"

?

S. c. cataplexis

Haiti: New Providence I., Bahama Is, poss. Andros I (all introduced)

?"

Apparently intergrades with S. c. pelates in some areas. Scalation: 0-1 internasals (mode 1), 3 supralabials; middorsal zone of granules and large keeled and imbricate dorsal scales; 15-22 dorsal scales between axilla and groin; 39-49 rows at midbody; gulars smooth; ventrals smooth and round, 24-31 between axilla and groin. Other: 10-15 fourth toe lamellae. Coloration: strong sexual dichromatism; (males) dorsally blue-grey, brown or greenish; scattered rusty and/or purplish-brown scales; head either yellow-green or vivid rusty-orange, heavy black reticulate pattern may be present (see subspecies); (females) dorsally pale- to blue-grey or dark brown; 1-4 dark transverse bands (obscure in some subspecies) that contain grey scales within; black nuchal collar with normally 4 white ocelli; head pattern of pale greenish or rich brown lines on drab blue-grey or grey background.: UNFINISHED

S. c. deuterus

Île de la Gonâve

?"

?

S. c. enochrus

Haiti

?"

Found up to 2,600 m high. In contrast with nominate subspecies has low number of dorsal scales between axilla and groin and around midbody. Scalation: 0-1 internasals (mode 1), 3 supralabials; middorsal zone of granules and large keeled and imbricate dorsal scales; 15-18 dorsal scales between axilla and groin; 40-45 rows at midbody; gulars smooth; ventrals smooth and round, 25-31 between axilla and groin. Other: 14-17 fourth toe lamellae. Coloration: strong sexual dichromatism; (males, in preservative) overall dull uniform tan, heads slightly greyer; no dorsal or head patterns; venters immaculate pale; (females) pale dorsal ground colour; the 1st pale nuchal band of the nominate subspecies is represented instead by a transverse row of dots, 2nd pale nuchal band is obcure; transverse body bands obliterated by heavy dark salt-and-pepper mottling on pale background; black nuchal collar and ocelli obliterated; no U-shaped cephalic pattern as in other subspecies [SOURCE: Schwartz & Thomas]

S. c. pelates

Haiti

?"

?

S. c. picturatus

Haiti

?"

Mainly found at lower altitudes: Schwartz and Thomas reported that this subspecies was only known from the vicinity of Jérémie and Grande Cayemite. In contrast with nominate subspecies has low number of dorsal scales between axilla and groin, high number around midbody. Scalation: 1-3 internasals (mode 1), 3 supralabials; middorsal zone of granules and large keeled and imbricate dorsal scales; 14-18 dorsal scales between axilla and groin; 42-53 rows at midbody; gulars smooth; ventrals smooth and round, 24-31 between axilla and groin. Other: 13-16 fourth toe lamellae. Coloration: strong sexual dichromatism; (males, in preservative) overall tan colour; remnants of female head pattern may be present; dorsally either unicolour or with dotted dark scales: (females) dorsally dark, with very dark heads; head pattern of 3 longitudinal lines; pair of pale nuchal bands enclosing slightly darker area; 2-4 dark transverse bands (obscure in some subspecies) that contain grey ocelli; black collar with 4 distinct ocelli [SOURCE: Schwartz & Thomas].

S. c. polyommatus

Île Grande Cayemite

?"

?

S. c. websteri

Haiti

?"

?

S. corticola

Central Bahamas Sphaero

Rum Cay (Bahama Islands)

?"

See EMBL database entry for further details.

S. c. aporrox

East Plana Cay

?"

?

S. c. campter

Crooked-Acklins Bank

?"

Apparently intergrades with S. c. pelates in some areas.

S. c. soter

San Salvador I. and surrounding islands

?"

?

S. cricoderus

Turquino Collared Sphaero

Cuba

?"

?

S. cryphius

Desert Pygmy Sphaero

Dominican Republic

?"

?

S. dacnicolor

Jamaican Tailspot Sphaero

?"

Description: snout pointed and elongate, distance from tip of nose to eye greater than distance from latter to ear opening. Rostral large with a long median cleft. Nostril between rostral, first supralabial, one small triangular postnasal, and a moderate suprauasal. The two supranasals and a small scale between them border the rostral above posteriorly. Four large supralabials to beneath centre of eye. Head and body covered with small, rather prominent, tubercle-like scales, larger on snout. Mental large, like rostral, in contact with two scales posteriorly. Two large and deep, one small and deep, and one small and narrow infralabials. Scales on throat imbricate, small, rounded in outline, sometimes with a trace of a keel. On the belly the scales are smooth with a more triangular outline. Coloration: ground color of upper surfaces grayish or slightly reddish, with scattered spots of dusky gray. Some of these are of considerable size, much larger than in S. punctatissimus or in S. nigropunctatus. Posterior to the sacral region is a spectacle-like marking similar to that often seen in S. lineolatus. [SOURCE: Barbour]

S. darlingtoni

Northern Forest Sphaero

Dominican Republic

?"

?

S. d. bobilini

Sierra Martin Garcia (Dom. Rep.)

S. d. darlingtoni

W. Cordilla Septentrional (Dom. Rep.)

S. d. mekistus

Sierra de Nieba (Dom. Rep.)

S. d. noblei

NE Dom. Rep

S. difficilis

Hispaniolan Eyespot Sphaero

?"

?

S. d. anthracomus

E coast of Barahona Peninsula (Dom. Rep.)

S. d. difficilis

NE Dom. Rep

May be found at high altitudes up to and beyond 2,000m.

S. d. diolenius

SC and E Dom. Rep

S. d. euopter

Île de la Tortue

S. d. lycauges

N Haiti

S. d. peratus

Far NE Dom. Rep (not Samana Peninsula)

S. d. typhlopous

NW Dom. Rep.

Subspecies apparently intergrades with S. d. difficilus and possibly S. d. lycauges in some areas.

S. docimus

Cabo Cruz Banded Sphaero

Cabo Cruz, Cuba

?"

Some authorities consider this to be S. epizemius: see EMBL database entry for details.

S. dunni

? Sphaero

Honduras, Cuba

?"

?

S. elasmorhynchus

Snout Shield Sphaero

Haiti (Naco River & Cofradia)

?"

?

S. elegans

Ashy Gecko/Sphaero

[See below]

?"

Description: very closely allied to S. sputator. The scales are smaller, and there are as many as ten transverse dark bands from the eyes to the hind limbs; these bars much narrower than the interspaces between them. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

S. e. elegans

W/C Cuba, Isla de la Juventud, USA ( to Florida & Key West; introduced)

S. e. punctatissimus

Hispaniola; Île Grande Cayemite; Île de la Gonâve

SVL 3.5 cm, TL 6.5 cm

Formerly considered a full species. Snout still more pointed, longer, measuring twice the diameter of the orbit and distinctly more than the distance between the eye and the ear-opening. Grey above, uniform or dotted with white. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

S. elegantulus

Antigua Bank Sphaero

Antilles, Antigua, Barbuda, Haiti

?"

?

S. epiurus

Hispaniolan Tailspot Sphaero

Dominican Republic (Loma El Penon), Antigua, Barbuda

?"

?

S. fantasticus

Southern Leeward Sphaero

Lesser Antilles

TL 5.4 cm, SVL approx 50% SVL

Description: snout pointed, as long as the distance between the eye and the ear-opening, once and a half the diameter of the orbit; ear-opening roundish, about as large as digital expansion. Scalation details: rostral large, with longitudinal cleft above; nostril pierced between the rostral, the first labial, and three scales; three upper labials, median smallest three lower labials, first very large, third very small; mental large, truncate posteriorly. A small spine-like scale on the border of the upper eyelid, above the centre of the eye. Upper surface of head covered with small, granular, slightly keeled scales, largest on the snout. Back covered with subrhomboidal imbricate scales about the size of the ventral scales; the vertebral line covered with minute granular scales. Scales on the limbs small, slightly keeled. Gular scales granular, abdominal scales large, imbricate, smooth. Tail: cylindrical, tapering, covered with smooth imbricate scales, with a series of large transversely dilated plates inferiorly. Coloration: light brown above, the head generally darker, vermiculated with white lines; whitish beneath. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

S. f. anidrotus

Marie-Galante

S. f. fantasticus

Guadaloupe

S. f. fuga

Dominica

S. f. hippomanes

La Désirade

S. f. karukera

Guadeloupe

S. f. ligniservulus

Montserrat

S. f. orescius

Guadeloupe

Intergrades with S. f. fantasticus and S. f. karukera.

S. f. phyzacinus

Îles des Saintes, Ilet à Cabrit, Terre-de-Bas, Terre-de-Haut

S. f. tartaropylorus

Guadeloupe

S. gaigae

Chevronated Sphaero

Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Isla Pineros

?"

?

S. gilvitorques

Jamaican Collared Sphaero

Antilles, Jamaica

?"

Description: snout short. Three upper and three lower labials. Mental narrowed behind. Frontal scales keeled. Dorsal scales large, keeled, intermaxillary in about sixteen rows. Coloration: dark brown above, with a yellow collar just anterior to the interscapular region. Head darker, marked with narrow lines as follows: one median, one supraciliary, one loreal, two postauricular. Beneath a little paler. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

S. glaucus

Dwarf Gecko

Mexico (Yucatan), Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, Jamaica, poss. Costa Rica

SVL 3 cm, TL 6 cm

Description: general characters as in S. sputator, but the rostral is considerably smaller. Coloration: light brown above, with darker vermiculations; a dark streak on the side of the head, passing through the eye; a dark brown transverse spot on middle of upper side of neck; tail with two yellow black-edged spots near the tip; digits annulated with yellow; lower surfaces whitish, the sides and throat with brownish vermiculations. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

S. goniorhynchus

Jamaican Forest Sphaero

Antilles, Jamaica (incl. Cabarita), Mexico (Tehuantepec/Oaxaca)

?"

?

S. graptolaemus

Marked Throated Pygmy Gecko

S Costa Rica, W Panama

?"

?

S. heliconiae

? Sphaero

N Colombia, Jamaica (Port Antonio)

?"

?

S. homolepis

Common Pygmy Gecko/ Brown Dwarf Gecko

S Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Magdalena, Panama, Colombia

?"

This species has a complicated taxonomic history: see EMBL database entry for details and also a picture.

S. inaguae

Inagua Sphaero

Inagua (Bahamas), Watlings, Costa Rica, Nicaragua

?"

?

S. intermedius

North Coast Banded Sphaero

Cuba (Habana, Matanzas), Watlings, Great Inagua Island

?"

?

S. kirbyi

Bequia Sphaero

Lesser Antilles: Bequia, Grenada Bank

?"

?

S. klauberi

Puerto Rican Upland Gecko

Puerto Rico, Cuba (Sierra de Hato Nuevo between Hato Nuevo and Sabanilla de La Palma, Province Matanzas)

?"

?

S. ladae

Spotted Algarve Sphaero

Dominican Republic (Sierra Martin Garcia)

?"

?

S. lazelli

Cap-Haitien Sphaero

Haiti (El Yunque)

?"

?

S. leucaster

Broken Stripe Sphaero

Dominican Republic

?"

?

S. levinsi

Desecheo Gecko

Puerto Rico

?"

?

S. lineolatus

Lined Pygmy Gecko

W Panama, Haiti (Cap-Haitien, Department du Nord)

TL approx 5.5 cm; SVL approx 50% TL

Description: snout pointed, as long as the distance between the eye and the ear-opening, once and a half the diameter of the orbit; ear opening small, oval, vertical. Scalation details: rostral moderately large, with longitudinal cleft above; nostril pierced between the rostral, the first labial, and three scales; five upper and as many lower labials, the anterior very long; mental large, truncate posteriorly, followed by polygonal scales passing gradually into the granular gular scales. A small spine-like scale on the border of the upper eyelid, above the middle of the eye. Upper surfaces covered with small, equal, slightly keeled, juxtaposed granular scales; on the head the granules are smooth, largest on the snout; abdominal scales larger, imbricate. Tail: cylindrical, tapering, covered with imbricate smooth scales; a median series of large scales inferiorly. Coloration: two varieties of colour: (1) Brownish above; head with five dark brown streaks, the central one ending on occiput, the others extending to the neck ; the outer passing through the eye; lower surfaces whitish (2) Brown above, dotted with darker ; a dark line on the side of the head, passing through the eye; a dark band on each side of neck, and from axilla to groin; yellowish dark-edged ocelli on the back, limbs, and tail ; digits annulate with yellowish; end of tail with two blackish annuli, separated by a yellowish interspace; lower surfaces whitish, with minute brown dots. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

S. macrolepis

Common Puerto Rican Gecko

TL approx 5.5 cm, SVL approx 50% of TL

Description: snout obtusely pointed, as long as tbe distance between the eye and the ear-opening, hardly once and a half the diameter of the eye. Ear-opening roundish, as large as digital expansion. Rostral moderately large, with median cleft above ; nostril pierced between the rostral, the first labial, and two or three scales; three or four upper and as many lower labials, anterior longest; mental large, truncate posteriorly. Upper eyelid with a small spine-like scale. Head covered with small, juxtaposed, slightly keeled scales, largest on the snout. Dorsal scales larger than vcntrals, rhomboidal, pointed behind, strongly keeled and imbricate. Scales on the breast keeled, on the belly smooth. Caudal scales similar to the dorsals; a series of larger scales on the lower side of the tail. Light brown above ; head with dark brown lines; sometimes a large interscapular black spot with two white dots anteriorly; lower surfaces dirty white, throat generally striolated with brown. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

S. mariguanae

Southern Bahamas Sphaero

Antilles, Mariguana C., Booby, Bahamas, Isla Pineros, Puerto Rico, Turks Islands

?"

?

S. microlepis

Saint Lucia Sphaero

Antilles, St. Croix, Santa Lucia, Dominica, Martinique, Costa Rica, Isla Monito, British Virgin Islands

?"

Description: distinguished from S. fantasticus in having the snout shorter and more obtuse, the dorsal scales smaller, and the granules forming a less distinct zone on the middle of the back larger. Bocourt adds that the ventral scales are keeled and that there are no enlarged inferior caudal scales. Back with dark spots and large transverse markings ; throat lineolate with brown. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

S. micropithicus

Monito Gecko

Puerto Rico

?"

?

S. millepunctatus

Spotted (Pygmy) Gecko

Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico (Yucatan), Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala Maria Islands (the southernmost of two), Vieux Fort Quarter, St. Lucia

?"

Dorsal scales are granular and keeled on this species. EMBL database entry has access to pictures.

S. molei

? Gecko

Antilles, Guyana, Venezuela, Trinidad, Tobago, Costa Rica, Nicaragua

?"

See EMBL database entry for possible distribution in Colombia.

S. monensis

Mona Gecko

Antilles, Isla Mona, Guyana, Venezuela, Trinidad, Tobago, Caparo

?"

?

S. nicholsi

Nichol's Crescent Sphaero

Puerto Rico, Mona Island, Isla Cueva, Isla Guayacan

SVL ¾"/2cm

Rivero calls this the most easily distinguished Sphaerodactylus gecko in Puerto Rico. It seems to prefer dry habitat and can be found on the floor of open deciduous forest or in piles of coconut trash on the beaches. Coloration: there is no sexual dichromatism in this species. Overall dorsal colour grey or tan; Pair of light, fine dorsolateral lines running from behind eyes on to the tail; transverse V or Y at base of tail; crescent- or W-shaped marking on head; dorsum and flanks speckled with black; scattered white scales on back; throat yellowish with brown speckling; tail orange yellow; some individuals have small black patch, sometimes with two white dots inside, on the back just above the shoulders, usually divided into two small black spots; male distinguished by escutcheon extending on to the thighs. [SOURCE: Rivero]

S. nigropunctatus

Cuban Three-Banded Sphaero

[See below]

SVL 3.5 cm; TL 6.7 cm

See Reptile Database entry for more precise details of distribution of the Cuban subspecies in particular. Description: agrees with S. sputator in general characters, but the granules on the flanks are considerably larger than those on the middle of the back. Brown (the very numerous minute black specks mentioned by Gray being no longer visible, tail and lower surfaces lighter. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

S. n. alayoi

Cuba

S. n. atessares

?

S. n. decoratus

Rum Cay (Bahamas)

S. n. flavicauda

Great Bahama Bank, Cay Sal Bank (Bahama Is)

S. n. gibbus

Exuma Cays, Long I, Little San Salvador I., Green Cay (Bahamas)

S. n. granti

Cuba

S. n. lissodesmus

Cuba

S. n. ocujal

Cuba (SE coast)

S. n. porrasi

Bahama Is, Ragged Is.

S. n. strategus

Cuba (SE coast)

S. notatus

Reef Gecko/ Brown-Speckled Sphaero

Bahamas, Cuba, USA

?"

Perhaps the best known of this little-known genus as the species is also found in the USA. This latter subspecies is often known as the Florida Reef Gecko. The subspecies S. n. exsul appears to be no longer valid: see Reptile Database entry. Description: snout rather short. Four upper and as many lower labials. Upper eyelid with a spine-like scale. Frontal scales keeled. Dorsal scales large, keeled. Gular scales smooth. Tail longer than body. Coloration: reddish brown, with faint darker markings on the back, indicating longitudinal streaks. A median longitudinal line upon the head, which expands posteriorly; a supraciliary, three postocular, and a lorcal line; the first-mentioned extends from a greater or less distance posteriorly; in some specimens these lines are broken into small spots. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

S. n. amaurus

Bahamas

S. n. atactus

Cuba, Bahamas

S. n. exsul

Swan Is.

S. n. notatus

Florida, USA

S. n. peltastes

Little Bahama Bank (Bahamas)

S. nycteropus

Haitian Flathead Sphaero

Haiti (Morne Cubois Peninsula)

?"

?

S. ocoae

Ocoa Sphaero

Dominican Republic (Peravia province)

?"

?

S. oliveri

Escambay Spotted Sphaero

Antilles, Cuba, Bahamas, USA (Florida)

?"

?

S. o. oliveri

Cuba

S. o. storeyae

Isla de la Juventud (Cuba)

S. omoglaux

Haitian Border Sphaero

Haiti

?"

?

S. oxyrhinus

Jamaican Sharp-Nosed Sphaero

Jamaica, Cuba (inc. Ile of Pines)

SVL 3.2 cm

Description: very closely allied to S. argus, from which it differs in the much longer and sharper snout and the larger rostral plate; the length of the snout equals nearly twice the diameter of the orbit, and is much more than the distance between the eye and the ear-opening. Coloration: pale brown above, covered with more or less confluent darker specks; lower surfaces whitish, the sides and throat speckled with brown. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

S. o. dacnicolor

W Jamaica

S. o. oxyrhinus

NE Jamaica

S. pacificus

Cocos Pygmy Gecko

Costa Rica, Cocos Island, Jamaica (Port Antonio, Portland Parish)

?"

?

S. parkeri

Parker's Banded Sphaero

Antilles, Jamaica, St. Elisabeths

?"

?

S. parthenopion

Virgin Islands Dwarf Sphaero

British Virgin Islands (Gorda), Cocos Island, Puerto Rico

S. perissodactylius

Martin Garcia Sphaero

Dominican Republic (S Sierra Martin Garcia)

?"

?

S. pimienta

Pepper Sphaero

Cuba (Sierra Maestra)

?"

?

S. plummeri

Barahona Big-Scaled Sphaero

Hispaniola

?"

See EMBL database entry for comments.

S. ramsdeni

Cuban Forest Sphaero

Antilles, Cuba, Jamaica (Alligator Pond)

?"

?

S. randi

Barahona Speckled Sphaero

Dominican Republic, British Virgin Islands

?"

See EMBL database entry for details.

S. r. methorius

Dominican Republic

S. r. randi

Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands (?)

S. r. strahmi

Dominican Republic

S. rhabdotus

Two-Stripe Sphaero

Dominican Republic (Valle de Neiba), Cuba (Monte Libano/Oriente)

?"

?

S. richardi

Richard's Banded Sphaero

Antilles, Jamaica, Cuba

?"

?

S. richardsonii

Richardson's Banded Sphaero

Antilles, Jamaica

TL approx 7.5 cm, SVL approx 3.5 cm

See the EMBL database entry for further details on the restricted knowledge of the two subspecies. Description: snout pointed, longer than the distance between the eye and the ear-opening, once and two thirds the diameter of the eye. Ear opening roundish, nearly as large as digital expansion. Rostral large, with median cleft above; nostril pierced between the rostral, the first labial, and two rather large nasals; four upper and three or four lower labials, anterior longest ; mental large, truncate posteriorly. Upper eyelid with a very small spine-like scale. Head covered with granular scales, which are not larger, and slightly keeled on the snout. Dorsal scales very large, much larger than ventrals, rhomboidal, strongly keeled, and imbricate; they form about eighteen longitudinal series. Gular scales minutely granular; abdominal scales large, imbricate, smooth. Tail cylindrical, tapering, covered with large strongly imbricate scales; those on the upper surface keeled; a series of feebly enlarged scales inferiorly. Light pinkish-brown above, with six lighter, dark-edged, transverse bands on the body; head with two white streaks from the tip of the snout to the neck, and another on each side from eye to ear; tail completely encircled by eight brown annuli, becoming gradually darker towards the end, as broad as the interspaces between them; limbs also annulate. Lower surfaces lighter, the throat with brown chevron-shaped bands. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

S. r. gossei

Montego Bay, Jamaica

S. r. richardsonii

N coast of Jamaica

S. roosevelti

Roosevelt's Beige Sphaero

SW Puerto Rico, Isla Cueva, Vieques, Jamaica (Montego Bay), Isla Caja de Muertos

The EMBL database entry has links to several pictures.

S. rosaurae

? Sphaero

Islas de la Bahia (Honduras), Helene Island, Vieques, Puerto Rico (Parguera)

?"

See EMBL database entry for details.

S. rubeni

Gibara Banded Sphaero

Cuba

?"

Not recognised in EMBL database.

S. ruibali

Ruibal's Sphaero

Antilles, Cuba (Guantanamo Province), Bay, Helene Island

?"

?

S. sabanus

Northern Leeward Sphaero

Antilles, Saba, Statia, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Eustache, Cuba (Guantanamo), St. Eustatius, St. Christopher

?"

?

S. samanensis

Haitises Banded Sphaero

Dominican Republic, Saba, Statia, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Eustache

?"

?

S. savagei

Eastern Speckled Sphaero

Dominican Republic (Province El Seibo, Prov. La Altagracia), Isla Soana

?"

?

S. s. juanilloensis

Dominican Republic

S. s. savagei

E Dominican Republic, Isla Soana

S. scaber

Double-Collared Sphaero

Antilles, Cuba (Villa Clara, Camaguey Province), Dominican Republic (Province La Romana)

?"

?

S. scapularis

Double-Collared Sphaero

AntNW Ecuador (St. Javier), SW Colombia (Gorgona Island)

?"

?

S. schuberti

Neiba Agave Sphaero

Dominican Republic (southern slopes of the Sierra de Neiba)

?"

?

S. schwartzi

Guantamo Collared Sphaero

E Cuba

?"

See comment in EMBL database entry about relation to S. ramsdeni and S. cricoderus.

S. semasiops

Cockpit Eyespot Sphaero

Jamaica

?"

?

S. shrevei

Northwest Blotched Sphaero

Antilles, Haiti, Jamaica (Trelawny Parish)

?"

?

S. sommeri

Northwest Banded Sphaero

Haiti (St.Nicolas)

?"

?

S. sputator

Leeward Banded Sphaero

Antilles, Statia, Dog, St. Martin, St. Barts, St. Kitts, Nevis, Haiti (Departm. de l'Artibonite), Sombrero Island, Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Ile Fourchue, St. Eustatius, St. Christopher

?"

Description: snout pointed, slightly longer than the distance between the eye and the ear-opening, about once and two thirds the diameter of the orbit; ear-opening small, oval, vertical. Scalation details: rostral large, covering the end of the snout, with longitudinal cleft above; nostril pierced between the rostral, the first labial, and one or two small nasals; five upper and as many lower labials, the anterior very long; mental large, truncate posteriorly ; no regular chin-shields, but polygonal scales passing gradually into the granules of the throat. Upper eyelid with an exceedingly small spine-like scale above the middle of the eye. Upper surfaces covered with equal, small, flat, granular scales, largest on the snout; abdominal scales larger, imbricate. Tail: cylindrical, tapering, covered with small scales arranged in verticils, and a median series of transversely dilated scales inferiorly. Coloration: yellowish brown, upper surfaces with transverse dark-brown bands, as wide as the interspaces between them; five brown bands between the end of the snout and the hind limbs, the three anterior extending across the throat and neck; the bars on the tail complete, forming rings; snout dark brown, with two longitudinal yellowish streaks. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

S. storeyae

Isle of Pines Sphaero

Cuba

?"

?

S. streptophorus

Hispaniolan Small-Eared Sphaero

Dominican Republic, Haiti

?"

?

S. s. sphenophanes

Dominican Republic

S. s. streptophorus

S Haiti

S. thompsoni

Barahona Limestone Sphaero

Dominican Republic (Pedernales), SE Haiti

?"

?

S. torrei

Cuban Broad-Banded Sphaero

Cuba, Mexico (Mazatlan), Antilles, Bahamas

?"

See EMBL database entry for further details on the distribution of the two subspecies.

S. t. spielmani

Cuba

S. t. torrei

Cuba

S. townsendi

Townsend's Dwarf Sphaero

Puerto Rico, Vieques, Caja de M., Cuba, Stocky Island, Bahamas

SVL 24mm 

Coloration: similar to S. nicholsi but lacks crescent- or W-shaped marking on head and black marking on shoulders. In some areas of Puerto Rico it seems to hybridise with S. nicholsi. Reproduction: eggs appear to be laid under bark or inside rotten wood of old tree trunks [SOURCE: Rivero]

S. underwoodi

Turks Sphaero

Turks Islands, Grand Turk Island

?"

?

S. vincenti

Central Lesser Antillean Sphaero

Antilles: Martinique, St. Lucia, Dominica, St. Vincent

?"

Some of the subspecies on Martinique intergrade: see EMBL database entry for details and pictures.

S. v. adamas

Rocher de Diamant off the southern tip of Martinique

S. v. diamesus

St. Lucia

S. v. festus

Martinique

S. v. josephinae

Martinique (SW peninsula)

S. v. monilifer

Dominica

S. v. pheristus

Martinique (NE interior)

S. v. psammius

Martinique (extreme SW)

S. v. ronaldi

E coast of Martinique

S. v. vincenti

St. Vincent

S. williamsi

Haitian Striped Sphaero

Haiti (vicinity of Ca Soleil)

?"

?

S. zygaena

Tiburon Coastal Sphaero

Haiti

?"

?

S. "Yvonne"

Jaragua Sphaero

?"

No further details available: so far the only source for this gecko has been the CaribHerp database.