White-throated Gecko
Gonatodes albogularis
- Class
- Reptile
- Rarity
- Rare
- Observations
- 5,398
- Most observed in
- 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
Gonatodes albogularis, which has been called a number of vernacular names in English, is a smallish species of gecko found in warm parts of Central and South America, Cuba, Hispaniola and Jamaica. They prefer to live in tropical dry forest habitats. It is sexually dimorphic: the male is colourful, while the female is a more drab grey. The fingers do not have lamellar pads for climbing smooth surfaces like many other geckos but instead have normal claws like most lizards. At one time the species had a breeding population in southern Florida, especially Key West, but this population appears to have died out by the early 1990s. They are believed to be able to tell the difference between brightness and hues of conspecifics. Males are incredibly aggressive with territory defense against both other males and potential predators.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Yellow-headed gecko”.