Sphaerodactylus elasmorhynchus
Photo: (c) Marcos Rodríguez Bobadilla, niektóre prawa zastrzeżone (CC BY-SA)
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
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.
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.
Conservation measures underway
Other threatened species in SPHAERODACTYLIDAE
Threatened in Haiti
Frequently asked questions
Why is Sphaerodactylus elasmorhynchus classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Sphaerodactylus elasmorhynchus live?
What are the main threats to Sphaerodactylus elasmorhynchus?
Get weekly conservation intelligence
One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.
Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.