CR

Rough-bellied Day Gecko

Cnemaspis tropidogaster

Unknown

Overview

The rough-bellied day gecko is a species of day geckos found in the Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka. Its distribution in the southern Western Ghats is patchy and relatively uncommon. It is active during the day.

It has a distinct head, elongated snout, and keeled ventral scales; Its dark-brown dorsal side has transverse arrangement of light and dark variegations. It is pale brown/cream on its underside with spiny tubercles on its sides. Males have two to four preanal and three to six femoral pores.

Cnemaspis tropidogaster faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and habitat conversion in its extremely limited range in the Western Ghats of India. Mining activities and quarrying operations have directly destroyed portions of its rocky outcrop habitat, while agricultural expansion continues to fragment the remaining forest patches. The species' highly restricted distribution makes it exceptionally vulnerable to any local disturbances or climate-induced changes in its specialized microhabitat requirements.

Threat summary

Habitat

This gecko species inhabits rocky outcrops and granite formations within tropical moist deciduous forests of the Western Ghats. It shows a strong preference for crevices and caves in laterite and granite substrates, typically found at elevations between 400-800 meters in areas with high humidity and dense canopy cover.

Forest· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionHabitat & natural process restorationSpecies recovery

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Rough-bellied Day Gecko classified as Critically Endangered?
Rough-bellied Day 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. Cnemaspis tropidogaster faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and habitat conversion in its extremely limited range in the Western Ghats of India. Mining activities and quarrying operations have directly destroyed portions of its rocky outcrop habitat, while agricultural expansion continues to fragment the remaining forest patches. The species' highly restricted distribution makes it exceptionally vulnerable to any local disturbances or climate-induced changes in its specialized microhabitat requirements.
Where does Rough-bellied Day Gecko live?
Rough-bellied Day Gecko occurs in Sri Lanka. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Rough-bellied Day Gecko?
The main threats to Rough-bellied Day Gecko are 1.1, 2.1, 3.2, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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