Scaly-eyed Gecko - side view, La Isla Escondida, Colombia

Presumed Lepidoblepharis sp.

comments (5)

John Sullivan

Lion

Wow, what a cool little lizard! I'm not familiar with the genus Lepidoblepharis, but I think you got it right. Unfortunately it seems that there are a number of species in Colombia for which the Reptile Database doesn't have any photos, and at a quick glance yours didn't look just like any of the photos I did see.

I think the tail is original, based on its length and shape. Also, I do see some other pictures of Lepidoblepharis sp. online with brightly-colored tails. For most species at least, regrown tails are shorter than the original, and this one looks to me like typical original proportions. (Also, usually the regrown tail is the same as or duller-looking than the original, not brighter/more colorful.) Posted 6 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks so much John, having the genus confirmed is very helpful. I based it on the Colombian Dwarf Gecko which looks remotely similar. Posted 6 years ago
2. 1. John Sullivan
    
    Lion
    
    OK, I did a little investigating here. I don't know of a good reference for reptiles in Colombia, other than the Reptile Database, which as I mentioned above does not have photos for several of the Lepidoblepharis species in Colombia. I also looked for Lepidoblepharis observations in this general area in iNaturalist but there weren't any (there were some in northern Colombia but not down here in SW Colombia). But I see that La Isla Escondida is fairly close to the Ecuador border, and Tropical Herping has great photos of pretty much every Ecuadorian herp. So maybe this species is also found in Ecuador, in which case it would probably be illustrated on tropicalherping.com. Here's the page from that site with nearly all of the Ecuadorian Lepidoblepharis pictured: https://www.tropicalherping.com/science/books/reptiles/sphaerodactylidae.html
    
    From that page, I think yours looks very much like Lepidoblepharis peraccae. Note the pale stripe that separates back and sides, the lighter-colored patch on the back of the head, the lighter-colored tail, separated from the back by a thin curved line, and the similarity in dorsal pattern. I then checked on Reptile Database whether this species is found in Colombia (it is). And it is described as being from "SW Colombia", which makes sense since it is also found in Ecuador (Reptile Database doesn't mention Ecuador, but I completely trust the Tropical Herping folks).
    
    Given the right general location, the close similiarity between your photo and the Tropical Herping photo, and the fact that all of the other Tropical Herping photos look distinct in one way or the other, I would be pretty confident to ID your lizard as L. peraccae. Posted 6 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      Oh wow what a lovely surprise to wake up to! That tropicalherping page is so useful and peraccae looks like a solid match to me. It seems to have this overarching forehead that I also see on my observation, it really sticks out.
      
      Thanks so much, John, you rock! Posted 6 years ago
    2. 1. John Sullivan
        
        Lion
        
        I'm always happy to help you with your wonderful website! Posted 6 years ago