Size: Up to 27 mm SVL* Discovered first in 1888 on
Cayman Brac, this tiny lizard has a pointed snout and
a gray to greenish body covered in tiny flecks. The iris
of the eye is a golden yellow colour. Head is tan or
beige to dull orange and the belly is pale. This lizard
can be found in bromeliads or under rocks, moist dead
leaves and in the cooler shaded areas of caves. It is
also associated with rotting wood, where it is most likely
is hunting termites. Possible year-round breeding since
eggs have been found in both summer and winter. (June
and February) They lay a single egg.
Although some geckos are diurnal and bask in the sun,
in Cayman, they will run from light and hide in dark
cavities when they are disturbed or exposed. This is
exactly the opposite to the preferences of Cayman anoles,
which are often seen basking in the sun.
Very little research
has been done in the Cayman Islands on this species.
These are ancient creatures. They are totally intolerant
of salt water and have not been able to travel even between
very close islands, like Little Cayman and Cayman Brac,
so there are two different subspecies on those islands.
The Cayman Islands geckos are most closely related to
Sphaerodactylus argus in
Jamaica, where this is an endemic species, divided into
three subspecies. |
