Florida, Reef gecko, Brown-speckled sphaero
Sphaerodactylus notatus, also known as the Florida reef gecko or brown-speckled sphaero, is a small species of gecko native to Florida and the Caribbean.
Sphaerodactylus notatus is a small lizard, about two inches long. It feeds on insects and spiders.
It is found in Florida, Cuba and the Bahamas, and has been introduced to some offshore islands of Jamaica. Being found in Florida, it is widely considered to be one of the few geckos native to the United States. Many herpetologists have questioned whether it should truly be considered native; Stejneger and Barbour (1933) claimed that the species was introduced into Key West in 1878 when trade between Florida and Cuba was far more common; the same introduction pathway is responsible for at least 7 other herpetofaunal species established in Florida. There was attempts to put this gecko on the threatened or endangered list, but due to the controversy about its origins it was denied. The species was also only detected in Florida in the 1850s, not long after it became a U.S. territory, supporting the introduction theory. However, genetic evidence indicates that they originally colonized Key Largo, not Key West, likely by rafting, supporting a natural origin for the species in Florida.
It can be found in both natural and man-made habitats. It is mainly found in damp forests, under logs, or in hollow logs. In Florida, its survival is closely tied to the seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera ); the species was extirpated from some localities after devastating events such as Hurricane Irma, but recolonized them when the seagrape returned. In Florida, the species is threatened by sea level rise, and it has been extirpated from some sites that it historically occurred at, including Everglades National Park, parts of Big Pine Key, and parts of Miami Beach. It has been petitioned that the Florida reef gecko be listed as an endangered species in the state of Florida, which would afford it necessary protections.
