About
The Tokashiki gecko is restricted to several islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago in Japan, with several subspecies found on different islands.
This beautiful gecko diverged from all other living species almost 30 million years ago, before the divergence of humans and baboons. Its genus, Goniurosaurus, split from all other lizards before the extinction of the dinosaurs!
This species is thought to be collected by illegal pet traders on Tokunoshima, Okinawajima, Kumejima and Iheyajima. Moreover, the Tokashiki gecko is threatened by deforestation as large areas of native subtropical forest on the Ryuku Islands were cleared and converted for agriculture.
The species is also seriously threatened by predation by introduced carnivores such as the mongoose and feral cats. This species has some protection in Japan; however, population monitoring is still required for this species.
- Order: Squamata
- Family: Eublepharidae
- Population: Unknown
- Trend: decreasing
EDGE Score
Distribution
This species is found in the Ryuku Archipelago of Japan, from sea level to 450 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology
This species lives in leaf litter of subtropical forests in karst limestone areas. It preys at night on small invertebrates. Females lay one to three clutches per breeding season and these are no larger than two eggs.
