Subfamily SPHAERODACTYLINAE - "Ball-toed" Geckos

QUICK INDEX

G. albogularis, Yellow-Headed Gecko

G. alexandermendesi, Annulated Gecko

G. annularis, Annulated Gecko

G. antillensis

G. atricucularis, Brown Dwarf Gecko

G. caudiscutatus, Greater Dwarf Gecko

G. cecilae

G. concinnatus, Collared Streak Lizard

G. eladioi

G. falconensis

G. hasemani, Brown-Headed Streak Lizard

G. humeralis, Amazon Streak Lizard

G. ocellatus

G. petersi

G. seigliei

G. taniae

G. tapojonicus

G. vittatus

Scientific Name

Common Name

Distribution

Size

Notes

G. albogularis

Yellow-Headed Gecko

Central and South America

?"

Scalation: >12 scales below the 3rd anterior digit and >16 scales below posterior 4th digit; 2nd toes larger than 5th. EMBL database entry has some useful information and links to pictures.

G. a. albogularis

G. a. bodinii

Venezuela 

Formerly considered a full species (see Blanco). Scalation: <16 scales below the 3rd anterior digit and <21 scales below posterior 4th digit; 2nd toes larger than 5th. 48-55 longitudinal ventral rows and 18-20 transverse ventral rows.

G. a. fuscus

Central and South America, Cuba; USA (S Florida, introduced)

Formerly considered a full species, G. fuscus. Lee notes that in the Yucatán peninsula this subspecies has only been found in a limited number of buildings in Belize City, having therefore probably been introduced by human agency. Scalation: rostral large, grooved above: supralabials decrease in size posteriorly; row of enlarged median subcaudal scales. Sometimes a small black spine in the skin bordering the eye above. Coloration: males usually yellowish or orange on head and neck; overall coloration usually grey-brown, which may be accompanied by a pattern of darker and lighter spots in a more or less irregular pattern, or by darker coloration posterior to the shoulders. These markings may be also be accompanied by a white vertical line in front of the forelimbs, bordered by black on either side; within this black area there may be small white spots. On each side of the body behind the shoulders is a row of 4-6 black or brown rounded spots, edged posteriorly by a narrow white line: these markings may be extended to give a somewhat crossbanded effect. The limbs may be uniform in colour or have small light round spots. The tail is uniform or spotted on the basal portion. The tip of an unregenerated tail is almost white.

G. a. notatus

Hispaniola, inc. Ile à Cabrit, Ile de la Gonâve; Jamaica; Grand Cayman Island

Found at various altitudes from sea level up to 3,000 ft.

G. alexandermendesi

Guyana

?"

Described in 2006: see Reptile Database entry for details.

G. annularis

Annulated Gecko

Antilles, Panama, E Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil (Amapa)

?"

?

G. antillensis

? Gecko

N Venezuela, Bonaire, Las Aves, Orchila, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba

?"

Scalation: 10-12 scales below the 3rd anterior digit and 12-16 scales below posterior 4th digit.

G. astralis

Venezuela

?"

Described in 2010: see Reptile Database entry for details.

G. atricucullaris

Cajamarca Gecko

NW Peru (Cajamarca)

?"

?

G. caudiscutatus

Shield-Head Gecko

Ecuador, Colombia, poss. Peru; Galapagos Islands (introduced)

?"

Found in the Andes. Scalation details: males have very developed supraocular spinose scales and very wide subcaudal shields. Other: head considerably more depressed than in G. albogularis and snout slightly longer. Coloration: males are dark grey on back and limbs, with light blue, black-edged spots; more or less distinct larger ocellus above axilla; head dorsally white with reticulated black lines, of which the one from the eye to the snout is constant; chin, throat and breast are white, either immaculate or with a few black specks; belly grey or blackish. Females are grey-brown above with darker spots symmetrically arranged in pairs on back and tail; lower surfaces slightly lighter; throat has brown reticulations. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

G. ceciliae

Brilliant South American Gecko

Venezuela, Trinidad

?"

Venezuelan habitat is cloud forest. See Reptile Database entry for more details (in Spanish). Click here for a picture.

G. concinnatus

Collared (Forest) Gecko/ Collared Streak Lizard

Ecuador, Colombia, N Peru, N Venezuela, poss. NW Brazil

?"

Scalation details: chin-shields very small. Other: snout slightly longer and more pointed than in G. albogularis; digits slightly depressed at the base. Coloration: males have pale brown or yellowish anterior part of body, including head and forelimb, terminated by two vertical humeral bands that may meet dorsally to form a white collar with black borders; rest of the body including hindlimb is blue with elaborate black vermiculations; tail darker, also variegated; interior surface from chest is blue, paler again at region of hind limb and anus. Females are overall greyish-brown, with head variegated in black and two dorsal longitudinal rows of black blotches, pointed in front and separated by the median line; narrow white vertical streak on the shoulder; gular region from chin to chest has alternating black and white oblique stripes converging behind and making a triangular pattern. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

G. daudini

Union Island, St Vincent, Grenadines

Described in 2005: see Reptile Database entry.

G. eladioi

?

Galapagos, Cocos Island, Caribbean Islands, Brazil

?"

The Reptile Database entry notes that this species is sympatric with G. humeralis.

G. falconensis

Estado Falcón Gecko

Venezuela

?"

Species name derives from its distribution in the locality of Falcón.

G. hasemani

Brown-Headed Streak Lizard, Haseman's Gecko

N Bolivia, E Peru, Colombia, Brazil

See Reptile Database entry for more precise details of distribution.

G. humeralis

Bridled (Forest) Gecko/ Amazon Streak Lizard, Trinidad Gecko

Trinidad, Tobago, French Guiana, Suriname, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Bolivia, NE Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil

Sympatric with many larger species: see Reptile Database entry.

G. infernalis

Venezuela

Described in 2008: see Reptile Database entry.

G. lichenosus

Venezuela

Described in 2010: see Reptile Database entry.

G. ligiae

Venezuela

See Reptile Database entry for details.

G. nascimentoi

Brazil

Described in 2011: see Reptile Database entry for details.

G. naufragus

Venezuela (Isla La Blanquilla)

Described in 2013: see Reptile Database entry for details.

G. ocellatus

Trinidad, Tobago, Venezuela

?"

?

G. petersi

Venezuela

?"

?.

G. purpurogularis

Venezuela

Described in 2004: see Reptile Database entry.

G. riveroi

Venezuela

Described in 2011: see Reptile Database entry.

G. rozei

Venezuela

Described in 2012: see Reptile Database entry.

G. seigliei

Venezuela

?"

?.

G. superciliaris

Sarisariñama Forest Gecko

Venezuela

Described in 2008: see Reptile Database entry.

G. taniae

Venezuela

?"

Scalation: 16-20 scales below the 3rd anterior digit and 21-23 scales below posterior 4th digit; 2nd toes shorter than 5th..

G. tapajonicus

Brazil

?"

?.

G. timidus

C Guyana

Described in 2011: see Reptile Database entry.

G. vittatus

Striped Leaf Gecko

Venezuela (Los Roques Islands), Colombia, Trinidad, Tobago, Aruba, Curacao, Margarita, Coche, Cubagoa, Los Frailes, Los Testigos

Scalation: <16 scales below the 3rd anterior digit and <21 scales below posterior 4th digit; 2nd toes larger than 5th..38-48 longitudinal ventral rows and 15-17 transverse ventral rows. Coloration: males have a very conspicuous white vertebral line outlined in black.