Marche Leon Least Gecko
CR

Marche Leon Least Gecko

Sphaerodactylus elasmorhynchus

Unknown

Photo: (c) Marcos Rodríguez Bobadilla, niektóre prawa zastrzeżone (CC BY-SA)

Overview

The Marche Leon least gecko, also known commonly as the snout-shield sphaero, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to Haiti.

Sphaerodactylus elasmorhynchus faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban development and agricultural expansion across its extremely limited range in Puerto Rico. The species' restriction to specific microhabitats makes it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes, while its small population size increases extinction risk from stochastic events. Hurricane damage and climate change-induced shifts in precipitation patterns further threaten the specialized leaf litter and rock crevice environments this gecko requires.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered gecko inhabits leaf litter, rock crevices, and low vegetation in dry coastal forests and scrublands of Puerto Rico. The species requires specific microhabitat conditions with adequate moisture retention and shelter availability in limestone-based substrates.

Rocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recovery

Other threatened species in SPHAERODACTYLIDAE

Gray GeckoVU

Gray Gecko

Sphaerodactylus cinereus

Declining
VU

Gonatodes tapajonicus

Unknown
EN

Teratoscincus rustamowi

Declining
Morne Dubois Least GeckoCR

Morne Dubois Least Gecko

Sphaerodactylus nycteropus

Unknown

Threatened in Haiti

EN

Reynosia cuneifolia

Declining
VU

Neea collina

Declining
EN

Neea demissa

Declining
EN

Plinia caricensis

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Marche Leon Least Gecko classified as Critically Endangered?
Marche Leon Least Gecko is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Sphaerodactylus elasmorhynchus faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban development and agricultural expansion across its extremely limited range in Puerto Rico. The species' restriction to specific microhabitats makes it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes, while its small population size increases extinction risk from stochastic events. Hurricane damage and climate change-induced shifts in precipitation patterns further threaten the specialized leaf litter and rock crevice environments this gecko requires.
Where does Marche Leon Least Gecko live?
Marche Leon Least Gecko occurs in Haiti. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Marche Leon Least Gecko?
The main threats to Marche Leon Least Gecko are 2.1, 5.3, 5.4, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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