''Lygodactylus'' is a genus of diurnal

gecko Geckos are small, mostly carnivorous lizards that have a wide distribution, found on every continent except Antarctica. Belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, geckos are found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from . Geckos ar ...

s with 72 species. They are commonly referred to as dwarf geckos. They are mainly found in Africa and Madagascar although two species are found in South America. ''Lygodactylus picturatus'', the best known species, is found in Kenya and commonly known as the white-headed dwarf gecko. Recently, illegal importation from Tanzania of brightly colored (and critically-endangered), ''

Lygodactylus williamsi ''Lygodactylus williamsi'' is a critically endangered species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to a small area of Tanzania. Common names include turquoise dwarf gecko, William's dwarf gecko, and, in the pet trade, elect ...

,'' known as electric blue geckos, has been gaining attention for ''Lygodactylus'' geckos in the reptile trade. Since all trade in wild-caught ''Lygodactylus williamsi'' is illegal, shipments of these geckos are often intentionally mislabelled as ''Lygodactylus spp.'' or as ''

Lygodactylus capensis The Cape dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus capensis'')('lygodactylus' = 'flexible fingers') is a species of dwarf gecko found in the woodlands and forests of central and southern Africa. It also occurs commonly in towns and cities and is sometimes ke ...

''.CITES Proposal for inclusion
/ref> As some customs officials have difficulty identifying members of this genus,
''Lygodactylus spp.'' identification guide
has been published online by CITES.

Species

Species in alphabetical order by

specific name Specific name may refer to: * in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules: * Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...

: *''

Lygodactylus angolensis The Angola dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus angolensis'') is a species of gecko native to southern Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 ...

'' Bocage, 1896 – Angola dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus angularis The angulated dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus angularis'') is a species of gecko native to southern Zaire and Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Af ...

'' Günther, 1893 – angulated dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus arnoulti Pasteur's dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus arnoulti''), also Common name, commonly known as Arnoult's gecko, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the Family (biology), family Gekkonidae. The species is native to Madagascar. Etymology The Specific name ( ...

'' G. Pasteur, 1965 – Pasteur's dwarf gecko, Arnoult's dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus baptistai ''Lygodactylus baptistai'' is a species of gecko endemic to Angola , national_anthem = " Angola Avante"() , image_map = , map_caption = , capital = Luanda , religion = , ...

'' Marques, Ceríaco, Buehler, Bandeira, Janota & Bauer, 2020 *''

Lygodactylus bernardi Bernard's dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus bernardi''), also commonly known as FitzSimons' dwarf gecko, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Zimbabwe. Etymology The specific name, ''bernardi'', is in h ...

'' V. FitzSimons, 1958 – Bernard's dwarf gecko, FitzSimon's dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus bivittis The tiny scaled gecko (''Lygodactylus bivittis'') is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. Taxonomy ''L. bivittis'' was formerly placed in a monotypic genus ''Microscalabotes''. However, molecular da ...

'' ( W. Peters, 1883) – tiny scaled gecko *''

Lygodactylus blancae ''Lygodactylus blancae'' is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. Etymology The specific name, ''blancae'', is in honor of French geneticist Françoise Blanc.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; ...

'' G. Pasteur, 1995 ‡ *''

Lygodactylus blanci Blanc's dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus blanci'') is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to central Madagascar. They are the least known species of dwarf geckos in Madagascar. Blanc's dwarf geckos are one out of eleven ...

'' G. Pasteur, 1967 ‡ – Blanc's dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus bonsi Bons's dwarf day gecko or Bons' dwarf day gecko (''Lygodactylus bonsi'') is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Malawi. Etymology The specific name, ''bonsi'', is in honor of French herpetologisJacques Bons(bo ...

'' G. Pasteur, 1962 – Bons's dwarf day gecko *''

Lygodactylus bradfieldi Bradfield's dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus bradfieldi'') is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Southern Africa. Geographic range ''L. bradfieldi'' is native to southern Angola, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and t ...

'' Hewitt, 1932 – Bradfield's dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus broadleyi Broadley's dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus broadleyi'') is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to East Africa. Etymology The specific name, ''broadleyi'', is in honor of African herpetologist Donald George Broadley. Be ...

'' G. Pasteur, 1995 – Broadley's dwarf gecko *''

'' ( A. Smith, 1849) – Cape dwarf gecko, common dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus chobiensis The Okavango dwarf gecko or Chobe dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus chobiensis'') is a species of gecko found along the Chobe and Zambesi Rivers and into the Okavango Delta, and into Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Description A large dwarf gecko ( ...

'' V. FitzSimons, 1932 – Okavango dwarf gecko, Chobe dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus conradti Matschie's dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus conradti''), also known commonly as Conradt's dwarf gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to East Africa. There are no valid subspecies. Etymology The specific name, ...

'' Matschie, 1892 – Matschie's dwarf gecko, Conradt's dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus conraui The Cameroon dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus conraui''), also known commonly as Conrau's dwarf gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. This small gecko is found in forests, plantations and gardens in West Africa and Central Africa. ...

'' Tornier, 1902 – Cameroon dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus decaryi Angel's dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus decaryi'') is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. Etymology The specific name, ''decaryi'', is in honor of French botanist Raymond Decary. Beolens, Bo; Watkin ...

'' Angel, 1930 – Angel's dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus depressus The Zaire dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus depressus'') is a species of gecko found in central Africa, specifically in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is oviparous Ovip ...

K.P. Schmidt Karl Patterson Schmidt (June 19, 1890 – September 26, 1957) was an American herpetologist. Family Schmidt was the son of George W. Schmidt and Margaret Patterson Schmidt. George W. Schmidt was a German professor, who, at the time of Kar ...

, 1919 – Zaire dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus expectatus'' G. Pasteur & C. Blanc, 1967 – Ambilobe dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus fischeri Fischer's dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus fischeri'') is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to West Africa and Central Africa. Etymology The specific name, ''fischeri'', is in honor of German herpetologist Johann G ...

Boulenger Boulenger is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Benjamin Boulenger (born 1990), French footballer * Edward George Boulenger (1888–1946), British zoologist, director of aquarium at London Zoo * George Albert Boulenger (1858–1 ...

, 1890 – Fischer's dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus grandisonae ''Lygodactylus grandisonae'', also known commonly as Bunty's dwarf gecko, Grandison's dwarf gecko, and the Kenya dwarf gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to East Africa and the Horn of Africa. Etymol ...

'' G. Pasteur, 1962 – Kenya dwarf gecko, Bunty's dwarf gecko, Grandison's dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus graniticolus The granite dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus graniticolus'') is a species of gecko endemic to the Limpopo Province in South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounde ...

Jacobsen Jacobsen may refer to: * Jacobsen (surname), including a list of people with the name * Jacobsen Manufacturing, a former American manufacturer ** Jacobsen, a brand of lawn-care products by Textron * Jacobsen Publishing, publisher of several Americ ...

, 1992 – granite dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus gravis The Usambara dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus gravis'') is a species of gecko endemic to the Usambara Mountains in Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in Ea ...

'' G. Pasteur, 1965 – Usambara dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus grotei'' Sternfeld, 1911 – Grote's dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus guibei The western dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus guibei'') is a small species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. Etymology The specific name, ''guibei'', is in honor of French herpetologist Jean Marius ...

'' G. Pasteur, 1965 – western dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus gutturalis'' (Bocage, 1873) – Uganda dwarf gecko, chevron-throated dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus heterurus Boettger's dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus heterurus'') is a species of gecko endemic to Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de ...

'' Boettger, 1913 – Boettger's dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus incognitus'' Jacobsen, 1992 – cryptic dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus inexpectatus'' G. Pasteur, 1965 – Dar es Salaam dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus insularis The insular dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus insularis'') is a species of gecko endemic to Juan de Nova Island (Mozambique). References

Lygodactylus Endemic fauna of Mozambique Reptiles of Mozambique Reptiles described in 1913 Taxa named by Os ...

'' Boettger, 1913 – insular dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus intermedius'' G. Pasteur, 1995 *''

Lygodactylus keniensis ''Lygodactylus keniensis'', also known as Parker's dwarf gecko or Kenya dwarf gecko, is a species of gecko found in northern Kenya, southern Somalia, southern Ethiopia, and eastern Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa ...

Parker Parker may refer to: Persons * Parker (given name) * Parker (surname) Places Place names in the United States *Parker, Arizona *Parker, Colorado * Parker, Florida * Parker, Idaho * Parker, Kansas * Parker, Missouri * Parker, North Carolina *Park ...

, 1936 – Parker's dwarf gecko, Kenya dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus kimhowelli'' G. Pasteur, 1995 – Kim Howell's dwarf gecko, Tanzanian dwarf gecko, zebra dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus klemmeri The Malagasy dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus klemmeri''), also known commonly as Klemmer's dwarf gecko, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. Geographic range ''L. klemmeri'' is endemic to Madagascar. Etymology The specific na ...

'' G. Pasteur, 1965 – Malagasy dwarf gecko, Klemmer's dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus klugei Kluge's dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus klugei'') is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to northeastern Brazil. Etymology The specific name, ''klugei'', is in honor of American herpetologist Arnold G. Kluge ...

'' ( H.M. Smith, R.L. Martin &

Swain Swain, Swains or Swain's may refer to: Places * Swain Islands, Antarctica * Swain's Island (Newfoundland and Labrador), Canada * Swains Island, an atoll in the Tokelau chain, American Samoa * Swain County, North Carolina, United States * Swains ...

, 1977) – Kluge's dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus laterimaculatus'' G. Pasteur, 1964 – side-spotted dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus lawrencei Lawrence's dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus lawrencei'') is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to Southern Africa. Etymology The specific name, ''lawrencei'', is in honor of South African entomologist Reginald Freder ...

'' Hewitt, 1926 – Lawrence's dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus luteopicturatus The yellow-headed dwarf gecko or dwarf yellow-headed gecko (''Lygodactylus luteopicturatus'') is a small species of dwarf gecko found in the rocky areas of southern Kenya, Somalia (maybe as an introduced species), eastern Tanzania, and Zanzibar ...

'' G. Pasteur, 1964 – dwarf yellow-headed gecko, yellow-headed dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus madagascariensis The Madagascar dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus madagascariensis'') is a species of gecko Geckos are small, mostly carnivorous lizards that have a wide distribution, found on every continent except Antarctica. Belonging to the infraorder Gekkot ...

'' (Boettger, 1881) – Madagascar dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus manni Mann's dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus manni'') is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to East Africa. Etymology The specific name, ''manni'', is in honor of William Montana Mann, who was an American entomol ...

'' Loveridge, 1928 – Mann's dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus methueni'' V. FitzSimons, 1937 – Methuen's dwarf gecko, Woodbrush dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus miops'' Günther, 1891 – Günther's dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus mirabilis'' (G. Pasteur, 1962) *''

Lygodactylus mombasicus ''Lygodactylus mombasicus'' is a species of gecko found in coastal Kenya and northern Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the Afri ...

'' Loveridge, 1935 – white-headed dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus montanus The Mount Ivohibe gecko (''Lygodactylus montanus'') is a species of gecko endemic to southeastern Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: R� ...

'' G. Pasteur, 1965 – Mount Ivohibe gecko *''

Lygodactylus montiscaeruli The Makgabeng dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus montiscaeruli'') is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to South Africa.. www.reptile-database.org. Habitat The preferred natural habitats of ''L. montiscaeruli'' are ro ...

'' Jacobsen, 1992 – Makgabeng dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus nigropunctatus'' Jacobsen, 1992 – black-spotted dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus nyaneka The Nyaneka dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus nyaneka'') is a species of gecko endemic to Angola , national_anthem = " Angola Avante"() , image_map = , map_caption = , capital = Luanda , relig ...

'' Marques, Ceríaco, Buehler, Bandeira, Janota & Bauer, 2020 *''

Lygodactylus ocellatus ''Lygodactylus ocellatus'' , also known as the ocellated dwarf gecko or spotted dwarf gecko, is a species of gecko endemic to South Africa and Eswatini Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaz ...

'' Roux, 1907 – ocellated dwarf gecko, spotted dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus ornatus'' G. Pasteur, 1965 – ornate dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus pauliani ''Lygodactylus pauliani'' is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. Etymology The specific name, ''pauliani'', is in honor of French entomologist Renaud Paulian.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael ...

'' G. Pasteur & C. Blanc, 1991 – ornate dwarf gecko

*'' Lygodactylus picturatus'' (W. Peters, 1871) – white-headed dwarf gecko, painted dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus pictus The robust dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus pictus'') is a species of gecko endemic to southern Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: Républiq ...

'' (W. Peters, 1883) – robust dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus rarus'' G. Pasteur & C. Blanc, 1973 – thin dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus regulus'' Portik, Travers,

Bauer Bauer is a German surname meaning "peasant" or "farmer". For notable people sharing the surname, see Bauer (surname). Bauer may also refer to: Education and literature * Bauer's Lexicon, a dictionary of Biblical Greek * Bauer College of Busin ...

& Branch, 2013 – prince dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus rex The king dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus rex'') is a rare species of dwarf gecko native to southeast Africa (Malawi, Mozambique).Lygodactylus roavolana'' Puente, Glaw, Vieites, & Vences, 2009 *''

Lygodactylus scheffleri Scheffler's dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus scheffleri'') is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to East Africa. There are three recognized subspecies. Etymology The specific name, ''scheffleri'', is in honor of Geor ...

'' Sternfeld, 1912 – Scheffler's dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus scorteccii'' G. Pasteur, 1959 – Scortecci's dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus somalicus'' Loveridge, 1935 – Somali dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus soutpansbergensis ''Lygodactylus soutpansbergensis'', the Soutpansberg dwarf gecko, is a species of gecko endemic to Limpopo province, South Africa. It was originally described as a subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below specie ...

'' Jacobsen, 1994 – Soutpansberg dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus stevensoni Stevenson's dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus stevensoni'') is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to southern Africa. Etymology The specific name, ''stevensoni'', is in honor of James Stevenson-Hamilton, the "father" ...

'' Hewitt, 1926 – Stevenson's dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus tchokwe'' Marques, Ceríaco, Buehler, Bandeira, Janota & Bauer, 2020 *'' Lygodactylus thomensis'' (W. Peters, 1881) – Annobon dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus tolampyae Grandidier's dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus tolampyae'') is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. Etymology The specific name, ''tolampyae'', may refer to Ambatolampy, a city in Madagascar. Grandidier ...

'' (

Grandidier Grandidier is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Alfred Grandidier (1836–1921), French naturalist and explorer *Ernest Grandidier (1833–1912), French industrialist, naturalist, and art collector, brother of Alfred *Guillaume G ...

, 1872) – Grandidier's dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus tsavoensis'' Malonza, Bauer, Granthon, D. Williams & Wojnowski, 2019 – Tsavo dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus tuberosus''

Mertens __NOTOC__ Mertens () is a surname of Flemish Origin, meaning "son of Merten" (Martin). It is the fifth most common name in Belgium with 18,518 people in 2008. Geographical distribution As of 2014, 43.4% of all known bearers of the surname ''Merte ...

, 1965 *''

Lygodactylus verticillatus Mocquard's dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus verticillatus'') is a species of gecko endemic to Madagascar and Europa Island Europa Island (, ), in Malagasy Nosy Ampela is a low-lying tropical atoll in the Mozambique Channel, about a third of the ...

'' Mocquard, 1895 – Mocquard's dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus viscatus ''Lygodactylus viscatus'' is a species of gecko endemic to Zanzibar Zanzibar (; ; ) is an insular semi-autonomous province which united with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. It is an archipelago in the Indian Oc ...

'' (Vaillant, 1873) – Howell's dwarf gecko, Copal dwarf gecko *''

Lygodactylus waterbergensis The Waterberg dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus waterbergensis'') is a species of gecko endemic to Limpopo in South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the ...

'' Jacobsen, 1992 – Waterberg dwarf gecko *'' Lygodactylus wetzeli'' (H.M. Smith, R.L. Martin & Swain, 1977) – South American dwarf gecko *''

'' Loveridge, 1952 – Williams' dwarf gecko, turquoise dwarf gecko, electric blue gecko *''

Lygodactylus wojnowskii The Mount Kenya dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus wojnowskii'') is a species of lizard in the Family (biology), family Gekkonidae. The species is Endemism, endemic to Kenya. Etymology The Specific name (zoology), specific name, ''wojnowskii'', is in h ...

'' Malonza, Granthon & D. Williams, 2016 – Mt. Kenya dwarf gecko ‡ ''L. blancae'' (

feminine Femininity (also called womanliness) is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with women and girls. Femininity can be understood as socially constructed, and there is also some evidence that some behaviors considered fe ...

genitive In grammar, the genitive case (abbreviated ) is the grammatical case that marks a word, usually a noun, as modifying another word, also usually a noun—thus indicating an attributive relationship of one noun to the other noun. A genitive can al ...

singular Singular may refer to: * Singular, the grammatical number that denotes a unit quantity, as opposed to the plural and other forms * Singular homology * SINGULAR, an open source Computer Algebra System (CAS) * Singular or sounder, a group of boar, ...

) is named for (Ms) Françoise Blanc, a

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

geneticist; but ''L. blanci'' (masculine, genitive, singular) is named for (Mr.) Charles Pierre Blanc, a French herpetologist.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Lygodactylus blancae'' and ''L. blanci'', p. 26). '' Nota bene'': A

binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

in parentheses indicates that the species was original described in a genus other than ''Lygodactylus''.

Species

References

Further reading