About
Cochran’s least gecko is part of the infraorder of geckos which includes some of the smallest reptiles in the world, reaching around only 1.5 – 6 cm in length.
Cochran’s least gecko is part of the family Sphaerodactylidae, which diverged from all other families 87 million years ago. This is around the time that Euarchontoglires evolved, a superorder of mammals that includes rodents, treeshrews and primates.
Cochran’s least gecko is an incredibly rare species, meaning there is very little data on its population size and trend. It is endemic to Hispaniola, and its total range is less than 71 km2.
Habitat loss due to agricultural expansion on this island is a major threat to this species. There are no known species-specific conservation management measures in place. To aid the conservation of this species, further research is required to understand its distribution, abundance, population trends and ecology.
Cochran’s least gecko is found in the Los Haitises National park, but this protected area is currently ineffective in protecting the forest against deforestation. Therefore, effective protected area management is needed to ensure the survival of this species.
- Order: Squamata
- Family: Gekkonidae
- Population: Rare
- Trend: unknown
- Size: 20-50mm
EDGE Score
Distribution
The species is found on the southern shore of Samaná Bay, Dominican Republic with an elevation range of 0-241 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology
This species lives in mesic environments associated with rock formations such as limestone walls, caves and mogotes (steep-sided hills), where it is found almost exclusively in and near bromeliads.