CR

Small-eyed Galliwasp

Celestus microblepharis

Declining

Overview

Celestus microblepharis, the small-eyed galliwasp or tiny eyelid galliwasp, is a species of lizard in the Diploglossidae family. It is found only in Jamaica.

Celestus microblepharis faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in Jamaica. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized threats, with remaining populations fragmented by human activities. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns affecting the moist forest environments this lizard requires.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic Jamaican lizard inhabits moist limestone forests and woodland areas, typically found in leaf litter and under rocks or logs in shaded environments. The species requires stable moisture levels and forest canopy cover, making it highly dependent on intact forest ecosystems.

Forest· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· majorShrubland· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Invasive/problematic species controlSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in DIPLOGLOSSIDAE

VU

Bromeliad Galliwasp

Celestus fowleri

Stable
VU

Giant Hispaniolan Galliwasp

Caribicus warreni

Declining
EN

Portland Coast Galliwasp

Celestus molesworthi

Declining
EN

Wetmorena agasepsoides

Unknown

Threatened in Jamaica

Oriente Yellow-mottled FrogVU

Oriente Yellow-mottled Frog

Eleutherodactylus ricordii

Declining
Humped BladderwortCR

Humped Bladderwort

Utricularia gibba

Unknown
VU

Broadstripe Goby

Elacatinus prochilos

Unknown
VU

Hildebrand's Goby

Gobiosoma hildebrandi

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Small-eyed Galliwasp classified as Critically Endangered?
Small-eyed Galliwasp 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. Celestus microblepharis faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in Jamaica. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized threats, with remaining populations fragmented by human activities. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns affecting the moist forest environments this lizard requires.
Where does Small-eyed Galliwasp live?
Small-eyed Galliwasp occurs in Jamaica. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Small-eyed Galliwasp?
The main threats to Small-eyed Galliwasp are 1.1, 1.3, 6.1, and 8.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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