About
Gonatodes infernalis is estimated to live in just 8km² near the city of Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela.
G. infernalis is part of the family Sphaerodactylidae which diverged from all other families of reptiles 87 million years ago, around the time that humans and rabbits shared a common ancestor!
This species is known from just 5 female specimens collected in 2007. Since then this species has been looked for on over 10 different expeditions and it has not been found, suggesting the population may have declined.
G. infernalis range has been repeatedly burned by people of the Piaroa tribe in preparation for agricultural use, although this is not a new activity.
This species does not occur in any protected areas, local community conservation efforts are required to prevent the threat of fire thought to threaten this species.
- Order: Squamata
- Family: Sphaerodactylidae
- Population: Unknown
- Trend: decreasing
EDGE Score
Distribution
G. infernalis is known only from the type locality near the city of Puerto Ayacucho, Amazonas, Venezuela.
Habitat and Ecology
G. infernalis was found on dark granite inselbergs (isolated hills or mountains) that stand out from the rest of a semi-deciduous forest.