Published May 30, 2019. Updated January 2, 2024. Open access. Peer-reviewed.

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Coastal Leaf-toed Gecko (Phyllodactylus reissii)

Reptiles of Ecuador | Sauria | Phyllodactylidae | Phyllodactylus reissii

English common names: Coastal Leaf-toed Gecko, Peters’ Leaf-toed Gecko.

Spanish common names: Geco común de la costa, salamanquesa común de la costa, jañape.

Recognition: ♂♂ 17.9 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=7.5 cm. ♀♀ 17.4 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=7.3 cm..¹ Phyllodactylus reissii can be differentiated from most other geckos in Ecuador based on its large body size, dorsum with spaced enlarged scales arranged in parallel rows, and lack of enlarged tubercles on the tail (Fig. 1).^2,3 The most similar co-occurring species in Ecuador are P. galapagensis, P. kofordi, P. pumilus, and P. simpsoni.² All of these are smaller geckos having densely packed tubercles on the dorsal surfaces of the body.³

Figure showing variation among individuals of Phyllodactylus reissii

Figure 1: Individuals of Phyllodactylus reissii from Ecuador: Jorupe Reserve, Loja province (); La Ceiba Reserve, Loja province (); Puerto Ayora, Galápagos province (). j=juvenile.

Natural history: Phyllodactylus reissii is an extremely common gecko that inhabits seasonally dry forests and dry shrubland areas. In Galápagos, it is so far only found in human-modified environments.^1,2 The species easily colonizes human settlements and old boats stranded on the beach.^2,3 At night, especially between 9:00 and 10:00 pm,⁴ Coastal Leaf-toed Geckos are active at ground level or on rocks, boulders, cacti, and tree trunks up to 5 m above the ground.^1–5 In artificial environments, they utilize fence posts, walls, and ceilings, usually close to electric lights.^2,6 Their diurnal retreats include crevices, holes, or under any object that offers protection from predators and adverse temperatures.¹ When exposed in their daytime shelters, individuals move rapidly to another dark retreat.¹ As a distraction for potential predators, geckos of this species are capable of shedding the tail.⁵ Breeding takes place throughout the year.⁷ Clutches consist of two eggs laid under rotting debris at the base of trees, in leaf-litter, or in rotting stumps and cacti.¹ The diet consists of almost any arthropod smaller than 25 mm, including beetles, cockroaches, moths, butterflies, grasshoppers, spiders, pseudoscorpions, and hemipterans.⁸

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Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances..⁹ Phyllodactylus reissii is listed in this category because this species is widely distributed, thrives in human-modified environments, and is not undergoing population declines or facing major immediate threats of extinction.⁹ Instead, P. reissii is an invasive species that has been linked to the displacement of native geckos, such as P. galapagensis.^10,11

Distribution: Phyllodactylus reissii is native to the Tumbesian lowlands of western Ecuador and northwestern Perú (Fig. 2). The species has been introduced into Lima¹² and the Galápagos (Fig. 3).².

Figure 2: Distribution of Phyllodactylus reissii in Ecuador. The star corresponds to the type locality: Guayaquil. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.

Figure 3: Distribution of Phyllodactylus reissii in Galápagos. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.

Etymology: The generic name Phyllodactylus comes from the Greek words phyllon (=leaf) and daktylos (=finger),¹³ and refers to the leaf-shaped fingers characteristic of this group of geckos. The specific epithet reissii honors Carl Reiss, a German living in Ecuador, who collected P. reissii in the 1860s.¹⁴

See it in the wild: On mainland Ecuador, Coastal Leaf-toed Geckos can be seen with almost complete certainty throughout their area of distribution. Prime locations for this species include Reserva Cerro Seco and Parque Nacional Machalilla. In Galápagos, the geckos are becoming increasinly abundant in the outskirts of Puerto Ayora, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, and Puerto Villamil.

Authors: Alejandro Arteaga^aAffiliation: Khamai Foundation, Quito, Ecuador. and Gabriela Aguiar^bIndependent researcher, Quito, Ecuador.

Academic reviewer: Cruz Márquez^cAffiliation: University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.

Photographer: Jose Vieira^dAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.^,^eAffiliation: ExSitu, Quito, Ecuador.

How to cite? Arteaga A, Aguiar G (2024) Coastal Leaf-toed Gecko (Phyllodactylus reissii). In: Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J (Eds) Reptiles of Ecuador: Life in the middle of the world. Available from: www.reptilesofecuador.com. DOI: 10.47051/WBUM6606

Literature cited:

Dixon JR, Huey RB (1970) Systematics of the lizards of the gekkonid genus Phyllodactylus of mainland South America. Los Angeles County Museum Contributions in Science 192: 1–78. DOI: 10.5962/p.241179
Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J, Tapia W, Guayasamin JM (2019) Reptiles of the Galápagos: life on the Enchanted Islands. Tropical Herping, Quito, 208 pp. DOI: 10.47051/AQJU7348
Torres-Carvajal O, Carvajal-Campos A, Barnes CW, Nicholls G, Pozo-Andrade MJ (2013) A new Andean species of Leaf-toed Gecko (Phyllodactylidae: Phyllodactylus) from Ecuador. Journal of Herpetology 47: 384–390. DOI: 10.1670/12-017
Jordán JC (2011) Notes on the ecology of Phyllodactylus reissi (Phyllodactylidae: Sauria) in Parque Nacional Cerros de Amotape (Tumbes, Peru). Revista Peruana de Biología 18: 377–380.
Field notes, Reptiles of Ecuador book project.
Torres-Carvajal O, Tapia W (2011) First record of the common house gecko Hemidactylus frenatus Schlegel, 1836 and distribution extension of Phyllodactylus reissii Peters, 1862 in the Galápagos. Check List 7: 470–472. DOI: 10.15560/7.4.470
Goldberg SR (2007) Notes on reproduction of Peters’ Leaf-toed Gecko, Phyllodactylus reissii (Squamata, Gekkonidae), from Peru. Phyllomedusa 6: 147–150.
Jordán JC (2006) Dieta de Phyllodactyllus reissi (Sauria: Gekkonidae) en la Zona Reservada de Tumbes, Perú. Revista Peruana de Biología 13: 121–123.
Perez J, Venegas P (2016) Phyllodactylus reissii. The IUCN Red List of threatened species. Available from: www.iucnredlist.org. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T178356A50867622.en
Hoogmoed MS (1989) Introduced geckos in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, with remarks on other areas. Noticias de Galápagos 47: 12–16.
Olmedo J, Cayot L (1994) Introduced geckos in the towns of Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal and Isabela. Noticias de Galápagos 53: 7–12.
Tello G (1998) Lagartijas del departamento de Lima, Perú. Biotempo 3: 59–63.
Brown RW (1956) Composition of scientific words. Smithsonian Books, Washington, 882 pp.
Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011) The eponym dictionary of reptiles. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 296 pp.

Appendix 1: Locality data used to create the distribution map of Phyllodactylus reissii in Ecuador (Fig. 2). Go to the section on symbols and abbreviations for a list of acronyms used. Asterisk (*) indicates type locality.

Country	Province	Locality	Source
Ecuador	Azuay	Cuenca, 109 km W of	Dixon & Huey 1970
Ecuador	Azuay	San Francisco, 4 km E of	Dixon & Huey 1970
Ecuador	Cañar	La Troncal	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	El Oro	Cascadas de Manuel	Garzón-Santomaro et al. 2019
Ecuador	El Oro	Machala	Dixon & Huey 1970
Ecuador	El Oro	Progreso, 25 km W of	UF 90628; VertNet
Ecuador	El Oro	Reserva Ecológica Arenillas	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	El Oro	Reserva Militar Arenillas	Garzón-Santomaro et al. 2019
Ecuador	El Oro	Santa Rosa	Dixon & Huey 1970
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Atacames, 2 km E of	UF 71934; VertNet
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Esmeraldas	Carvajal-Campos & Guerra-Correa 2020
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Playa Escondida	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Sua, beach E of	KU 142668; VertNet
Ecuador	Esmeraldas	Tonchigue	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Galápagos	Baltra airport	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	Bellavista	Phillips et al. 2012
Ecuador	Galápagos	El Progreso	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	Puerto Ayora	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	Puerto Baquerizo Moreno	Jiménez-Uzcátegui 2014
Ecuador	Galápagos	Puerto Velasco Ibarra	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Galápagos	Puerto Villamil	Torres-Carvajal & Tapia 2011
Ecuador	Galápagos	Vía al Garrapatero	Arteaga et al. 2019
Ecuador	Guayas	14 km S of the confluence Daule–Peripa	UF 71502; VertNet
Ecuador	Guayas	Ancón	Dixon & Huey 1970
Ecuador	Guayas	Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Guayas	Casas Viejas	Salvatierra et al. 2010
Ecuador	Guayas	Cerro El Mango	Carvajal-Campos & Guerra-Correa 2020
Ecuador	Guayas	Cerro Masvale	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	Guayas	Chimbo	Dixon & Huey 1970
Ecuador	Guayas	El Rincón	Photo by Fausto Siavichay
Ecuador	Guayas	Estero de Acumbe	Cuadrado et al. 2020
Ecuador	Guayas	Guayaquil*	Peters 1862
Ecuador	Guayas	Isla Santay	Cruz-García et al. 2023
Ecuador	Guayas	Pedro Carbo	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Guayas	Playas Villamil	Dixon & Huey 1970
Ecuador	Guayas	Playas, 70 km SW of	MVZ 77218; VertNet
Ecuador	Guayas	Playas, 75 km SW of	MVZ 77219; VertNet
Ecuador	Guayas	Puná	Dixon & Huey 1970
Ecuador	Guayas	Reserva Engabao	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Guayas	Río Daule	Dixon & Huey 1970
Ecuador	Loja	Bosque Petrificado de Puyango	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	Loja	Casanga	KU 142671; VertNet
Ecuador	Loja	Catamayo	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	Loja	Comunidad Bella María	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2014
Ecuador	Loja	Larama, 1.3 km SW of	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Loja	Macará, 1 km N of	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Loja	Mangahurco	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Loja	Pindal, 3 km W of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Loja	Quebrada El Faique	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	Loja	Reserva Jorupe	Morales 2013
Ecuador	Loja	Reserva La Ceiba	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Loja	Reserva Laipuna	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	Loja	Río Casanga	Dixon & Huey 1970
Ecuador	Loja	Villa Algodonal	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	Loja	Zapallal	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2014
Ecuador	Loja	Zapotillo	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	Los Ríos	Bosque Protector Pedro Franco Dávila	Cruz & Sánchez 2016
Ecuador	Manabí	Bahía de Caraquez	USNM 284035; VertNet
Ecuador	Manabí	Bosque Protector Cerro Seco	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Manabí	Cabo Pasado	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	Manabí	Crucita	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	Manabí	El Aromo	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2014
Ecuador	Manabí	Hostería Alandaluz	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Manabí	Isla de la Plata	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	Manabí	La Boca	Photo by Lisa Brunetti
Ecuador	Manabí	Manta	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2014
Ecuador	Manabí	Manta, 6 km E of	Dixon & Huey 1970
Ecuador	Manabí	Montecristi, 5 km W of	Dixon & Huey 1970
Ecuador	Manabí	Palmar–Balsas	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	Manabí	Parque Nacional Machalilla	Almendariz & Carr 2007
Ecuador	Manabí	Pedernales	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	Manabí	Picoazá	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	Manabí	Playa Los Frailes	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Manabí	Playa Tiñosa	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2014
Ecuador	Manabí	Portoviejo	MCZ 163963; VertNet
Ecuador	Manabí	Puerto Cayo	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	Manabí	Puerto Lopez	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Manabí	Reserva Ayampe	Morales 2013
Ecuador	Manabí	San Lorenzo	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Manabí	San Vicente	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	Manabí	Santa Teresa	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2013
Ecuador	Santa Elena	Atahualpa, 2 km W of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Santa Elena	Colonche, 6 km SW of	Dixon & Huey 1970
Ecuador	Santa Elena	Punta Carnero	Dixon & Huey 1970
Ecuador	Santa Elena	Salinas	Dixon & Huey 1970
Ecuador	Santa Elena	Santa Elena, 5 mi N of	UF 39458; VertNet
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	El Pangui	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Zamora	iNaturalist; photo examined