Neiba Agave Sphaero
CR

Neiba Agave Sphaero

Sphaerodactylus schuberti

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neiba_agave_sphaero

Overview

The Neiba agave sphaero, also known commonly as the Neiba agave geckolet and Schubert's least gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Dominican Republic.

Sphaerodactylus schuberti faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban development and tourism infrastructure expansion across its extremely limited range in the Dominican Republic. The species' tiny population size makes it highly vulnerable to stochastic events, while introduced predators such as cats and rats pose additional pressure on this ground-dwelling gecko. Climate change threatens to alter the specific microhabitat conditions this specialized species requires for survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered gecko inhabits dry coastal scrublands and rocky outcrops in the Dominican Republic, typically found under stones and in crevices within xerophytic vegetation. The species requires specific microhabitat conditions with appropriate humidity levels and shelter sites in limestone karst terrain.

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSite/area managementSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in SPHAERODACTYLIDAE

Gray GeckoVU

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Gonatodes tapajonicus

Unknown
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Teratoscincus rustamowi

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Morne Dubois Least GeckoCR

Morne Dubois Least Gecko

Sphaerodactylus nycteropus

Unknown

Threatened in Dominican Republic

Hispaniola PupfishEN

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Unknown
Humped BladderwortCR

Humped Bladderwort

Utricularia gibba

Unknown
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Black-throated Stout Anole

Anolis armouri

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Bay-breasted Cuckoo

Coccyzus rufigularis

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Neiba Agave Sphaero classified as Critically Endangered?
Neiba Agave Sphaero 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 schuberti faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban development and tourism infrastructure expansion across its extremely limited range in the Dominican Republic. The species' tiny population size makes it highly vulnerable to stochastic events, while introduced predators such as cats and rats pose additional pressure on this ground-dwelling gecko. Climate change threatens to alter the specific microhabitat conditions this specialized species requires for survival.
Where does Neiba Agave Sphaero live?
Neiba Agave Sphaero occurs in Dominican Republic, and Haiti. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Neiba Agave Sphaero?
The main threats to Neiba Agave Sphaero are 2.3, 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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