About
The Banded Toed Gecko is a Moroccan endemic and has a fragmented distribution between the Atlas and Rif Mountains.
The Banded Toed Gecko is a rare species that has a total range area of 20,000 km2.
The Banded Toed Gecko is one of only three members of the genus Saurodactylus, which is endemic to the Maghreb region of Northern Africa. The Banded Toed Gecko diverged form all other species approximately 69 million years ago, around the same time that humans and tarsiers shared a common ancestor.
The main threat to this species is habitat loss. Habitat degradation is occurring at a fast rate in this species range due to agricultural intensification and also the increased human settlement in the area. The Banded Toed Gecko is currently unprotected and therefore there is a need to establish protection for both this species and also the area to conserve populations.
- Order: Squamata
- Family: Sphaerodactylidae
- Population: Rare
- Trend: decreasing
EDGE Score
Distribution
This species is found in Morocco between the Middle Atlas Mountains, the Rif Mountains and the coast.
Habitat and Ecology
This species lives on a semi-arid plateau that reaches the coast at one point and the foothills of the mountains. It has also been found in forested areas. Females will lay three clutches per year, with two eggs each.
