Skip to content

Hispaniolan Tailspot Sphaero

Sphaerodactylus epiurus

About

The Hispaniolan tailspot sphaero is only known from the place it was originally described (type locality), and the area of its total range is only around 12 km2.

The Hispaniolan tailspot sphaero is part of the infraorder of geckos which include some of the smallest reptiles in the world, with some individuals reaching only 1.5 cm in length.

It is part of the Sphaerodactylidae family, which diverged from all other reptiles around the time that humans and rabbits shared a common ancestor!

The Hispaniolan tailspot sphaero is found in the Dominican Republic and is restricted to wet limestone forest which is fragmented and degraded due to farming and agricultural practices. There are also proposed projects to start mining in the area, which could further threaten this species.

There are no known species-specific conservation measures currently in place for the Hispaniolan tailspot sphaero and it does not occur in any protected areas. To aid conservation, further research is required to clarify the population status of this species.

  • Order: Squamata
  • Family: Sphaerodactylidae
  • Population: Rare
  • Trend: decreasing

EDGE Score

EDGE Score: 5.57 (?)
ED Score: 15.397 (?)
GE / IUCN Red List (?)
Not Evaluated Data Deficient Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in the Wild Extinct

Distribution

The species is found from Cordillera Oriental, Dominican Republic, at an elevation of 100-290 metres above sea level.

Habitat and Ecology

This species lives around limestone rocks in covered areas such as cave entrances. Some individuals were found on the undersides of rocks.

Find out more