Tobago least gecko

The Tobago least gecko (Sphaerodactylus molei), also known commonly as Mole's gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is native to the Caribbean and northern South America.

Tobago least gecko
Sphaerodactylus molei, drawing by E.N. Fischer from Barbour, 1921
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Gekkota
Family:	Sphaerodactylidae
Genus:	Sphaerodactylus
Species:	S. molei
Binomial name
Sphaerodactylus molei Boettger, 1894
Synonyms[2]
Sphaerodactylus molei Boettger, 1894 Sphaerodactylus buergeri F. Werner, 1900 Sphaerodactylus venezuelanus Roux, 1927 Sphaerodactylus molei — King, 1962

Etymology

The specific name, molei is in honor of British naturalist Richard Richardson Mole (1860–1926) of Port of Spain, Trinidad.^[3]

Geographic distribution

Sphaerodactylus molei is found in the Antilles, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela including Margarita Island.^[2]

Habitat

The preferred habitat of Sphaerodactylus molei is forest at altitudes of 0–500 m (0–1,640 ft).^[1]

Description

Adults of Sphaerodacrtlus molei have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of about 25 mm (0.98 in).^[4]

Reproduction

Sphaerodactylus molei is oviparous.^[2] The adult female usually lays one egg, rarely two, in a rotten stump.^[5] Average egg size is 7 mm (0.28 in) by 5.0–5.5 mm (0.20–0.22 in).^[5]