Lizards > Geckos > Western Cape Thick-toed Gecko

Geckos (Gekkonidae; geitjies)

Western Cape Thick-toed Gecko / Wes-Kaapse Geitje

Pachydactylus labialis

Size Adult snout-vent length ranges from 35-45 mm.

Description Typical of terrestrial forms, the body is tubular and slightly elongated, the limbs and digits are short and stout, and the tail is slightly longer than the body. The nostril is pierced between three nasals and is well-separated from the rostral and first upper labial. The nasorostrals are well-separated by a granule. There are 16-18 rows of enlarged, keeled tubercles on the back and these are separated by granular scales. The middle digits have five transverse adhesive lamellae. The tail is cylindrical and segmented with transverse rows of six enlarged, keeled tubercles. The dorsal body is grey to greyish-brown, with large, diffuse, paler blotches. The large tubercles on the body are usually dark-tipped and sometimes a thin pale vertebral stripe may be present. The belly is creamy-white.

Biology Little is known about the biology of this species. It lives under stones on sandy soils and is nowhere very common. Like in other South African geckos, females probably lay two eggs early in summer, which will then hatch in late summer.

Distribution This gecko is restricted to succulent karroid veld, from the Gariep River to Saldanha in the south and inland to Calvinia.

Distribution in the GCBC It is restricted to the western coastal lowlands.

Conservation status Not listed.

Threats None identified.

Current studies None.