| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Reptilia |
| Order | Squamata |
| Family | Sphaerodactylidae |
| Genus | Quedenfeldtia (1) |
| Size | Snout-vent length: up to 4 cm (2) Tail length: up to 5.7 cm (2) |
The Atlas day gecko is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List (1).
The Atlas day gecko (Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus) is a small, high altitude lizard endemic to Morocco (3). All geckos are relatively small, soft-skinned and have a flattened body shape. Many geckos are noted for their climbing abilities, and the feet of many species are well-adapted for such forms of locomotion, with highly specialised pads on their toes which enable them to grip onto most surfaces (4).
The male and female Atlas day gecko are very different in appearance. The female is dark brown or grey, with dark stripes running the length of the body. The female may also occasionally have an irregular series of dark spots on the upper side of the body. The male is paler with a large quantity of red or dark brown spots, which are more abundant along the sides of the body and neck. Often, the underside of both sexes is yellowish-green, although it may sometimes be darker in the male, especially towards the front of the body (3).
Many geckos are able to produce a wide range of vocalisations, including chirps, clicks, growls and barks (4).
A diurnal species (5), the Atlas day gecko hunts in the day and, like most other geckos, is likely to use a combination of visual and chemical cues to find its prey. As with other geckos, this species is likely to feed on insects and other small invertebrates (4).
The female Atlas day gecko lays two to three clutches, each of a single egg (1), which is enclosed in a hard, calcareous shell (4). The eggs of this species are deposited in rock crevices (1).
The Atlas day gecko occurs in a few protected areas within its range (1). However, there are no known specific conservation measures currently in place for this species.
Discover more about this species and reptile conservation:
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

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Gabri Mtnez
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