Peninsular Leaf-toed Gecko
Phyllodactylus nocticolus
Dixon, 1964
FIL-oh-DAK-til-us — nok-tih-KOH-lus
SSAR 9th Edition Comments:
The standard English name of this species is returned to that used in the 5th and 6th editions of this list (which used “Peninsular” rather than “Peninsula”).
(de Queiroz, Kevin and Lauren M. Chan. 2025. Squamata (excluding snakes) – Lizards. Pages 23-37 in Kirsten E. Nicholson (Editor), Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, 9th Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Lawrence, Kansas. 87 pp.)
Range maps are based on curated specimens and provided gratis by CNAH.
(Created by Travis W. Taggart; Version: 2023.04.10.08.04.18)
Download GeoJSON polygon range file: - 0.38 MB
Province/State Distribution:
United States: California
Taxonomic Etymology:
A gecko with leaf-like toes and nocturnal habits.
Phyllodactylus — From Greek phyllon (φύλλον), “leaf,” and daktylos (δάκτυλος), “finger.” The name means “leaf-fingered,” referring to the flattened toe pads that resemble leaves.
nocticolus — From Latin nocti- (“night”) and -colus (“inhabiting” or “dwelling”). Means “night-dwelling,” referring to the gecko’s nocturnal behavior.
First instance(s) of published English names:
Mexican Leaf-fingered Gecko (Phyllodactylus tuberculosus: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.);
Catalog of American Amphibians and Reptiles
The Reptile Database
GenBank
USGS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database
Selected References:
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1964
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Dixon, James R. The systematics and distribution of lizards of the genus Phyllodactylus in North and Central America. Scientific Bulletin 64-1. Research Center, New Mexico State University, University Park, New Mexico. 139pp.
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1973
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Dixon, James R. Phyllodactylus. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (141):1-2
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