Reptiles
Reticulated Banded Gecko
Coleonyx reticulatus · also called reticulated banded geckos
Emerging after dark across the desert floor of the Big Bend region, a reticulated banded gecko hunts small insects, its fine, net-like adult pattern replacing the bolder bands it wore as a juvenile within one of the narrowest ranges of any gecko species in the United States.
Overview
The reticulated banded gecko, Coleonyx reticulatus, is a small, nocturnal lizard native to desert habitat within the Big Bend region of western Texas and adjacent parts of northern Mexico. Its distinctive net-like adult skin pattern, unusual movable eyelids among geckos, and naturally narrow geographic range make it one of the more range-restricted and anatomically distinctive geckos found in North America.
A pattern that changes with age
The bold bands a young reticulated banded gecko wears give way to a much finer, net-like pattern as it matures, a transformation distinctive enough to define the species’ entire common name.
Status
Least Concern, present across suitable desert habitat within its naturally restricted range in the Big Bend region of Texas and adjacent Mexico.
Reticulated Banded Gecko: common questions
Why is it called the reticulated banded gecko?
This species develops a fine, net-like reticulated pattern across its skin as it matures, replacing the bolder banded pattern seen in juveniles, and this distinctive adult pattern gives the species its descriptive common name.
Where is the reticulated banded gecko found?
This species is restricted to a comparatively narrow range within the Big Bend region of western Texas and adjacent parts of northern Mexico, making it one of the more geographically limited gecko species found within the United States.
Why does the reticulated banded gecko have movable eyelids?
This species, like other members of its genus, has movable eyelids, an unusual feature among geckos since most gecko species instead rely on a fixed, transparent covering over the eye that they lick clean rather than blink, making this genus a notable exception within the broader gecko family.
When is the reticulated banded gecko active?
This species is active at night, emerging after dark to hunt small insects across open desert ground and rocky terrain, a nocturnal lifestyle that helps it avoid the extreme daytime heat typical of its Big Bend desert habitat.