Unidentified
species from Costa Rica.
Note
extreme small size of this Sphaerodactylus species (S.
macrolepis or S.
parthenopion). Picture by Kenneth Boone.
Added 19 September 2001. Last updated 1 January 2014: updated Introduction and added S. nicholsi and S. townsendi.
The genus Sphaerodactylus is extremely large, incorporating at least 70 species. In keeping with their island distribution (mainly the Caribbean, with a few reaching continental America), there seems to have been an explosion of speciation, although not quite as radical as among the cosympatric Anolis species. All are extremely small geckos and lay just one egg per clutch.
Boulenger gives the following characteristics of the genus: digits narrow, slender, free, with transverse lamellae inferiorly, the apex dilated into a disk, with a circular undivided plate inferiorly; all digits with a sheathed retractile claw, the sheath opening laterally and inwards; scales granular or imbricate; pupil round or subelliptical; eyelid nearly circular; no preanal or femoral pores.
The extremely small size of these geckos has both advantages and disadvantages. The obvious advantage is that a small colony can be kept and bred in a fairly small (down to 10-gal size) tank, with some room for a naturalistic display. The disadvantages are the requirement for tiny food items (fruitflies and pinhead crickets, not always available from the local pet shop) and the need for utmost security, since finding such a diminutive escapee would be very difficult. This also translates into taking the utmost care when cleaning out the terrarium, although at least such small lizards will not produce much mess. See the Bibliography for the availability of captive care notes.
There are not many Sphaerodactylus species available to keepers in the UK as far as I am aware, while I cannot recall seeing a single one ever for sale in Europe. Those that are sold tend mainly to be S. e. elegans, S. n. notatus and S. cinereus. In my opinion these geckos are for specialists rather than the average hobbyist, which is not to say that they are very difficult to keep, nor that they should be kept in less optimum conditions than other captive herptiles.
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QUICK INDEX |
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S. altavelensis, Alto Velo Sphaero |
S. argivus, Cayman Islands Sphaero |
S. argus, Stippled Sphaero |
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S. armasi, Spotted Head Sphaero |
S. armstrongi, Southern Forest Sphaero |
S. asterulus, Haitian Stippled Sphaero |
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S. beattyi, St Croix Sphaero |
S. becki, Navassa Sphaero |
S. bromeliarum, Cuban Bromeliad Sphaero |
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S. callocricus, Rough-Banded Sphaero |
S. celicara, Baracoan Eyespot Sphaero |
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S. cinereus, Haitian Broad-Banded Sphaero |
S. clenchi, Orange-Spotted Sphaero |
S. cochranae, Haitises Striped Sphaero |
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S. copei, Haitian Big-Scaled Sphaero |
S. corticola, Central Bahamas Sphaero |
S. cricoderus, Turquino Collared Sphaero |
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S. cryphius, Desert Pygmy Sphaero |
S. dacnicolor, Jamaican Tailspot Sphaero |
S. darlingtoni, Northern Forest Sphaero |
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S. difficilis, Hispaniolan Eyespot Sphaero |
S. docimus, Cabo Cruz Banded Sphaero |
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S. elasmorhynchus, Snout Shield Sphaero |
S. elegans, Ashy Sphaero |
S. elegantulus, Antigua Bank Sphaero |
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S. epiurus, Hispaniolan Tailspot Sphaero |
S. fantasticus, Southern Leeward Sphaero |
S. gaigeae, Chevronated Sphaero |
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S. gilvitorques, Jamaican Collared Sphaero |
S. glaucus, Dwarf Gecko |
S. goniorhynchus, Jamaican Forest Sphaero |
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S. graptolaemus, Marked Throated Pygmy Gecko |
S. homolepis, Common Pygmy Gecko/ Brown Dwarf Gecko |
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S. inaguae, Inagua Sphaero |
S. intermedius, North Coast Banded Sphaero |
S. kirbyi, Bequia Sphaero |
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S. klauberi, Puerto Rican Upland Gecko |
S. ladae, Spotted Algarve Sphaero |
S. lazelli, Cap Haitien Sphaero |
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S. leucaster, Broken Stripe Sphaero |
S. levinsi, Desecheo Gecko |
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S. macrolepis, Common Puerto Rican Upland Gecko |
S. mariguanae, Southern Bahamas Sphaero |
S. microlepis, Saint Lucia Sphaero |
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S. micropithicus, Monito Gecko |
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S. monensis, Mona Gecko |
S. nicholsi, Nichols' Crescent Sphaero |
S. nigropunctatus, Cuban Three-Banded Sphaero |
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S. notatus, Reef Gecko/Brown Speckled Sphaero |
S. nycteropus, Haitian Flat-Head Sphaero |
S. ocoae, Ocoa Sphaero |
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S. oliveri, Escambay Spotted Sphaero |
S. omoglaux, Haitian Border Sphaero |
S. oxyrhinus, Jamaican Sharp-Nosed Sphaero |
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S. pacificus, Cocos Pygmy Gecko |
S. parkeri, Parker's Banded Sphaero |
S. parthenopion, Virgin Islands Dwarf Sphaero |
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S. perissodactylius, Martin Garcia Sphaero |
S. pimienta, Pepper Sphaero |
S. plummeri, Barahona Big-Scaled Sphaero |
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S. ramsdeni, Cuban Forest Sphaero |
S. randi, Barahona Speckled Sphaero |
S. rhabdotus, Two-Stripe Sphaero |
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S. richardi, Richard's Banded Sphaero |
S. richardsonii, Richardson's Banded Sphaero |
S. roosevelti, Roosevelt's Beige Sphaero |
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S. rubeni, Gibara Banded |
S. ruibali, Ruibal's Sphaero |
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S. sabanus, Northern Leeward Sphaero |
S. samanensis, Haitises Banded Sphaero |
S. savagei, Eastern Speckled Sphaero |
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S. scaber, Double Collared Sphaero |
S. schuberti, Neiba Agave Sphaero |
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S. schwartzi, Guantamo Collared Sphaero |
S. semasiops, Cockpit Eyespot Sphaero |
S. shrevei, Northwest Blotched Sphaero |
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S. sommeri, Northwest Banded Sphaero |
S. sputator, Leeward Banded Sphaero |
S. storeyae, Isle of Pines Sphaero |
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S. streptophorus, Hispaniolan Small-Eared Sphaero |
S. thompsoni, Barahona Limestone Sphaero |
S. torrei, Cuban Broad-Banded Sphaero |
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S. townsendi, Townsend's Dwarf Sphaero |
S. underwoodi, Turks Sphaero |
S. vincenti, Central Lesser Antillean Sphaero |
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S. williamsi, Haitian Striped Sphaero |
S. zygaenae, Tiburon Coastal Sphaero |
S. "yvonne", Jaragua Sphaero |
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Scientific Name |
Common Name |
Distribution |
Size |
Notes |
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Alto Velo Sphaero |
Hispaniola, Alta Velo, Dominican Republic, Haiti (Department de l'Ouest, Indepedencia Province), Ile a Cabrit |
?" |
? |
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S. a. brevirostratus |
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S. a. enriguilloensis |
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S. a. lucioi |
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Cayman Islands Sphaero |
Bahamas, Cayman Brac, Antilles, Cayman-Islands (Little Cayman, Grand Cayman) |
?" |
? |
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S. a. bartschi |
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S. a. lewisi |
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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 |
?" |
? |
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S. a. andresensis |
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Spotted-Head Sphaero |
SE Cuba (Cabo Mais, Baracoa, Provinces Oriente, Guantanamo) |
?" |
? |
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Southern Forest Sphaero |
Dominican Republic, Hispaniola (Paradis/Brahona Province), Haiti |
?" |
? |
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S. a. hypsinephes |
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Haitian Stippled Sphaero |
Haiti |
?" |
? |
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St Croix Sphaero |
US Virgin Islands, St. Croix, Green Cay, Buck Island, Puerto Rican Bank |
?" |
? |
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S. b. seamani |
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Navassa Sphaero |
Navassa Island |
?" |
? |
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Cuban Bromeliad Sphaero |
Cuba (W. part of El Yunque de Baracoe, above Tabojó, 15 km west of Baracoe, Oriente Province) |
?" |
? |
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? Sphaero |
Bahamas (South Caica, Long Cay), South Caicos Island |
?" |
? |
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Rough-Banded Sphaero |
Dominican Republic |
?" |
? |
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Baracoan Eyespot Sphaero |
Cuba |
?" |
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Haitian Broad-Banded Sphaero |
Antilles, Haiti (Jeremi), Cuba, USA, Hispaniola |
?" |
? |
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S. c. cinereus |
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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. |
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Orange-Spotted Sphaero |
Dominican Republic |
?" |
? |
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S. c. apocoptus |
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Haitises Striped Sphaero |
Dominican Republic |
?" |
? |
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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. |
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S. c. copei |
Haiti |
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S. c. astreptus |
Haiti |
?" |
? |
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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 |
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S. c. deuterus |
Île de la Gonâve |
?" |
? |
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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] |
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S. c. pelates |
Haiti |
?" |
? |
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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]. |
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S. c. polyommatus |
Île Grande Cayemite |
?" |
? |
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S. c. websteri |
Haiti |
?" |
? |
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Central Bahamas Sphaero |
Rum Cay (Bahama Islands) |
?" |
See EMBL database entry for further details. |
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S. c. aporrox |
East Plana Cay |
?" |
? |
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S. c. campter |
Crooked-Acklins Bank |
?" |
Apparently intergrades with S. c. pelates in some areas. |
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S. c. soter |
San Salvador I. and surrounding islands |
?" |
? |
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Turquino Collared Sphaero |
Cuba |
?" |
? |
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Desert Pygmy Sphaero |
Dominican Republic |
?" |
? |
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Jamaican Tailspot Sphaero |
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?" |
Not recognised in the EMBL database. |
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Northern Forest Sphaero |
Dominican Republic |
?" |
? |
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S. d. bobilini |
Sierra Martin Garcia (Dom. Rep.) |
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S. d. darlingtoni |
W. Cordilla Septentrional (Dom. Rep.) |
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S. d. mekistus |
Sierra de Nieba (Dom. Rep.) |
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S. d. noblei |
NE Dom. Rep |
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Hispaniolan Eyespot Sphaero |
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?" |
? |
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S. d. anthracomus |
E coast of Barahona Peninsula (Dom. Rep.) |
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S. d. difficilis |
NE Dom. Rep |
May be found at high altitudes up to and beyond 2,000m. |
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S. d. diolenius |
SC and E Dom. Rep |
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S. d. euopter |
Île de la Tortue |
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S. d. lycauges |
N Haiti |
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S. d. peratus |
Far NE Dom. Rep (not Samana Peninsula) |
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S. d. typhlopous |
NW Dom. Rep. |
Subspecies apparently intergrades with S. d. difficilus and possibly S. d. lycauges in some areas. |
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Cabo Cruz Banded Sphaero |
Cabo Cruz, Cuba |
?" |
Some authorities consider this to be S. epizemius: see EMBL database entry for details. |
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? Sphaero |
Honduras, Cuba |
?" |
? |
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Snout Shield Sphaero |
Haiti (Naco River & Cofradia) |
?" |
? |
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Ashy Gecko/Sphaero |
[See below] |
?" |
? |
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S. e. elegans |
W/C Cuba, Isla de la Juventud, USA ( to Florida & Key West; introduced) |
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S. e. punctatissimus |
Hispaniola; Île Grande Cayemite; Île de la Gonâve |
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Formerly considered a full species. |
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Antigua Bank Sphaero |
Antilles, Antigua, Barbuda, Haiti |
?" |
? |
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Hispaniolan Tailspot Sphaero |
Dominican Republic (Loma El Penon), Antigua, Barbuda |
?" |
? |
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Southern Leeward Sphaero |
Lesser Antilles |
?" |
? |
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S. f. anidrotus |
Marie-Galante |
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S. f. fantasticus |
Guadaloupe |
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S. f. fuga |
Dominica |
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S. f. hippomanes |
La Désirade |
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S. f. karukera |
Guadeloupe |
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S. f. ligniservulus |
Montserrat |
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S. f. orescius |
Guadeloupe |
Intergrades with S. f. fantasticus and S. f. karukera. |
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S. f. phyzacinus |
Îles des Saintes, Ilet à Cabrit, Terre-de-Bas, Terre-de-Haut |
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S. f. tartaropylorus |
Guadeloupe |
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Chevronated Sphaero |
Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Isla Pineros |
?" |
? |
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Jamaican Collared Sphaero |
Antilles, Jamaica |
?" |
? |
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Dwarf Gecko |
Mexico (Yucatan), Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, Jamaica, poss. Costa Rica |
?" |
? |
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Jamaican Forest Sphaero |
Antilles, Jamaica (incl. Cabarita), Mexico (Tehuantepec/Oaxaca) |
?" |
? |
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Marked Throated Pygmy Gecko |
S Costa Rica, W Panama |
?" |
? |
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? Sphaero |
N Colombia, Jamaica (Port Antonio) |
?" |
? |
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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. |
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Inagua Sphaero |
Inagua (Bahamas), Watlings, Costa Rica, Nicaragua |
?" |
? |
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North Coast Banded Sphaero |
Cuba (Habana, Matanzas), Watlings, Great Inagua Island |
?" |
? |
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Bequia Sphaero |
Lesser Antilles: Bequia, Grenada Bank |
?" |
? |
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Puerto Rican Upland Gecko |
Puerto Rico, Cuba (Sierra de Hato Nuevo between Hato Nuevo and Sabanilla de La Palma, Province Matanzas) |
?" |
? |
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Spotted Algarve Sphaero |
Dominican Republic (Sierra Martin Garcia) |
?" |
? |
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Cap-Haitien Sphaero |
Haiti (El Yunque) |
?" |
? |
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Broken Stripe Sphaero |
Dominican Republic |
?" |
? |
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Desecheo Gecko |
Puerto Rico |
?" |
? |
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Lined Pygmy Gecko |
W Panama, Haiti (Cap-Haitien, Department du Nord) |
?" |
? |
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Common Puerto Rican Gecko |
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?" |
? |
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Southern Bahamas Sphaero |
Antilles, Mariguana C., Booby, Bahamas, Isla Pineros, Puerto Rico, Turks Islands |
?" |
? |
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Saint Lucia Sphaero |
Antilles, St. Croix, Santa Lucia, Dominica, Martinique, Costa Rica, Isla Monito, British Virgin Islands |
?" |
? |
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Monito Gecko |
Puerto Rico |
?" |
? |
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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. |
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? Gecko |
Antilles, Guyana, Venezuela, Trinidad, Tobago, Costa Rica, Nicaragua |
?" |
See EMBL database entry for possible distribution in Colombia. |
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Mona Gecko |
Antilles, Isla Mona, Guyana, Venezuela, Trinidad, Tobago, Caparo |
?" |
? |
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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] |
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Cuban Three-Banded Sphaero |
[See below] |
?" |
See EMBL database entry for more precise details of distribution of the Cuban subspecies in particular. |
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S. n. alayoi |
Cuba |
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S. n. atessares |
? |
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S. n. decoratus |
Rum Cay (Bahamas) |
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S. n. flavicauda |
Great Bahama Bank, Cay Sal Bank (Bahama Is) |
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S. n. gibbus |
Exuma Cays, Long I, Little San Salvador I., Green Cay (Bahamas) |
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S. n. granti |
Cuba |
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S. n. lissodesmus |
Cuba |
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S. n. ocujal |
Cuba (SE coast) |
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S. n. porrasi |
Bahama Is, Ragged Is. |
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S. n. strategus |
Cuba (SE coast) |
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Reef Gecko/ Brown-Speckled Sphaero |
[See below] |
?" |
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. Click here for an Allgecko.com care sheet. See also the EMBL database entry for more precise distribution details: it states among other things that the species has also been seen in Columbia. |
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S. n. amaurus |
Great Bahama Bank; CatI., Little San Salvador I. (Bahamas) |
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S. n. atactus |
Cuba, Bahamas |
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S. n. exsul |
Swan Is. |
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S. n. notatus |
Florida, USA |
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S. n. peltastes |
Little Bahama Bank (Bahamas) |
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Haitian Flathead Sphaero |
Haiti (Morne Cubois Peninsula) |
?" |
? |
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Ocoa Sphaero |
Dominican Republic (Peravia province) |
?" |
? |
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Escambay Spotted Sphaero |
Antilles, Cuba, Bahamas, USA (Florida) |
?" |
? |
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S. o. oliveri |
Cuba |
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S. o. storeyae |
Isla de la Juventud (Cuba) |
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Haitian Border Sphaero |
Haiti |
?" |
? |
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Jamaican Sharp-Nosed Sphaero |
Jamaica, Cuba (inc. Ile of Pines) |
?" |
? |
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S. o. dacnicolor |
W Jamaica |
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S. o. oxyrhinus |
NE Jamaica |
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Cocos Pygmy Gecko |
Costa Rica, Cocos Island, Jamaica (Port Antonio, Portland Parish) |
?" |
? |
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Parker's Banded Sphaero |
Antilles, Jamaica, St. Elisabeths |
?" |
? |
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Virgin Islands Dwarf Sphaero |
British Virgin Islands (Gorda), Cocos Island, Puerto Rico |
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Martin Garcia Sphaero |
Dominican Republic (S Sierra Martin Garcia) |
?" |
? |
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Pepper Sphaero |
Cuba (Sierra Maestra) |
?" |
? |
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Barahona Big-Scaled Sphaero |
Hispaniola |
?" |
See EMBL database entry for comments. |
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Cuban Forest Sphaero |
Antilles, Cuba, Jamaica (Alligator Pond) |
?" |
? |
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Barahona Speckled Sphaero |
Dominican Republic, British Virgin Islands |
?" |
See EMBL database entry for details. |
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S. r. methorius |
Dominican Republic |
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S. r. randi |
Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands (?) |
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S. r. strahmi |
Dominican Republic |
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Two-Stripe Sphaero |
Dominican Republic (Valle de Neiba), Cuba (Monte Libano/Oriente) |
?" |
? |
|
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Richard's Banded Sphaero |
Antilles, Jamaica, Cuba |
?" |
? |
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Richardson's Banded Sphaero |
Antilles, Jamaica |
?" |
See the EMBL database entry for further details on the restricted knowledge of the two subspecies. |
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S. r. gossei |
Montego Bay, Jamaica |
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S. r. richardsonii |
N coast of Jamaica |
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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. |
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? Sphaero |
Islas de la Bahia (Honduras), Helene Island, Vieques, Puerto Rico (Parguera) |
?" |
See EMBL database entry for details. |
|
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Gibara Banded Sphaero |
Cuba |
?" |
Not recognised in EMBL database. |
|
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Ruibal's Sphaero |
Antilles, Cuba (Guantanamo Province), Bay, Helene Island |
?" |
? |
|
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Northern Leeward Sphaero |
Antilles, Saba, Statia, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Eustache, Cuba (Guantanamo), St. Eustatius, St. Christopher |
?" |
? |
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Haitises Banded Sphaero |
Dominican Republic, Saba, Statia, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Eustache |
?" |
? |
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Eastern Speckled Sphaero |
Dominican Republic (Province El Seibo, Prov. La Altagracia), Isla Soana |
?" |
? |
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S. s. juanilloensis |
Dominican Republic |
|
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S. s. savagei |
E Dominican Republic, Isla Soana |
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Double-Collared Sphaero |
Antilles, Cuba (Villa Clara, Camaguey Province), Dominican Republic (Province La Romana) |
?" |
? |
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Double-Collared Sphaero |
AntNW Ecuador (St. Javier), SW Colombia (Gorgona Island) |
?" |
? |
|
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Neiba Agave Sphaero |
Dominican Republic (southern slopes of the Sierra de Neiba) |
?" |
? |
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Guantamo Collared Sphaero |
E Cuba |
?" |
See comment in EMBL database entry about relation to S. ramsdeni and S. cricoderus. |
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Cockpit Eyespot Sphaero |
Jamaica |
?" |
? |
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Northwest Blotched Sphaero |
Antilles, Haiti, Jamaica (Trelawny Parish) |
?" |
? |
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Northwest Banded Sphaero |
Haiti (St.Nicolas) |
?" |
? |
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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 |
?" |
? |
|
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Isle of Pines Sphaero |
Cuba |
?" |
? |
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Hispaniolan Small-Eared Sphaero |
Dominican Republic, Haiti |
?" |
? |
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S. s. sphenophanes |
Dominican Republic |
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S. s. streptophorus |
S Haiti |
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Barahona Limestone Sphaero |
Dominican Republic (Pedernales), SE Haiti |
?" |
? |
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Cuban Broad-Banded Sphaero |
Cuba, Mexico (Mazatlan), Antilles, Bahamas |
?" |
See EMBL database entry for further details on the distribution of the two subspecies. |
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S. t. spielmani |
Cuba |
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S. t. torrei |
Cuba |
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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] |
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Turks Sphaero |
Turks Islands, Grand Turk Island |
?" |
? |
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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. |
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S. v. adamas |
Rocher de Diamant off the southern tip of Martinique |
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S. v. diamesus |
St. Lucia |
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S. v. festus |
Martinique |
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S. v. josephinae |
Martinique (SW peninsula) |
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S. v. monilifer |
Dominica |
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S. v. pheristus |
Martinique (NE interior) |
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S. v. psammius |
Martinique (extreme SW) |
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S. v. ronaldi |
E coast of Martinique |
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S. v. vincenti |
St. Vincent |
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Haitian Striped Sphaero |
Haiti (vicinity of Ca Soleil) |
?" |
? |
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Tiburon Coastal Sphaero |
Haiti |
?" |
? |
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Jaragua Sphaero |
|
?" |
No further details available: so far the only source for this gecko has been the CaribHerp database. |
|
"Subspeciation in Sphaerodactylus copei," Albert Schwartz and Richard Thomas, Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Sciences, Vol 27 No 4, December 1964.
"A New Lizard from Haiti (Sphaerodactylus stejnegeri)", Doris M Cochran, Copeia No. 3, October 30 1931.
The care and maintenance of Sphaerodactylus geckos is covered somewhat briefly but usefully in the following books:
Geckos: A Pet Owners Guide, Bartlett and Bartlett, Barrons, 1995 (note that the Bartletts' book in the same series, A-Z of Lizard Care, does not appear to mention these geckos).
Keeping and Breeding Lizards, Chris Mattison, Blandford, 1996.
Echsen [Lizards] Vol I, Manfred Rogner, Ullmer 1992.
Lizards in Captivity, Richard Wynne, TFH, 1981.
Robert Powell Ph.D has a good site on the reptiles of Navassa Island, including pictures of the endemic geckos.
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