The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has approved the Florida reef gecko (Sphaerodactylus notatus notatus) listing on the state’s Threatened and Endangered Species List due to habitat loss, climate change and invasive species. Researchers have found the Florida reef gecko in coastal and mangrove areas of the Florida Keys. Recent surveys of the gecko’s habitat found the species in only 60% of its historical sites. Development, urbanization and sea level rise have reduced coastal and mangrove habitats where the geckos live, and nonnative species like the brown anole (Anolis sagrei), ashy anole (Anolis paternus), and green iguana (Iguana iguana) compete for food and habitat. The biology of the Florida reef gecko is not well known. Approval completes the listing process for this species, which started in 2021, and will provide protections. The state government protects threatened species from “take,” which includes harassing, harming, capturing or collecting the species, except for permitted activities and special authorizations. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will work with the public to improve the species’ conservation status by preserving and managing habitat and monitoring populations.
Read more in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Bulletin.
