Retigala Day Gecko
Cnemaspis retigalensis
Photo: (c) Sanjaya Kanishka, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Sanjaya Kanishka
Overview
Cnemaspis retigalensis, also known as the Retigala day gecko, is a species of diurnal gecko endemic to island of Sri Lanka.
Cnemaspis retigalensis faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and human settlement development within its extremely limited range in Sri Lanka's wet zone. The species' restriction to specific rock outcrop microhabitats makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while its small population size increases extinction risk from stochastic events. Climate change poses additional pressure through altered precipitation patterns affecting the humid conditions this gecko requires.
Habitat
This gecko inhabits humid rock outcrops and associated vegetation in Sri Lanka's wet zone, typically found on granite formations with crevices and moss-covered surfaces. The species requires specific microhabitat conditions including high humidity levels and stable temperatures provided by the wet zone's tropical climate.
Conservation measures underway
Other threatened species in GEKKONIDAE
Threatened in Sri Lanka
Frequently asked questions
Why is Retigala Day Gecko classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Retigala Day Gecko live?
What are the main threats to Retigala Day Gecko?
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.