Coleonyx variegatus (Baird, 1858)

Coleonyx variegatus, commonly known as the western banded gecko, is a terrestrial lizard.

Adult Size

Adults measure 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) in total length including the tail, and the body excluding the tail rarely exceeds 3 inches long.

Hatchling Size

Newly hatched hatchlings measure around 1 inch (2.5 cm).

Body Coloration

Its body is sandy-colored with dark crossbands broken into patches.

Skin Texture

Tiny scales give its skin a distinctly silky texture.

Eye and Eyelid Features

Unlike most typical geckos, it has prominent eyes with movable eyelids.

Male Distinguishing Features

Males of this species have noticeable spurs on both sides of the body at the base of the tail.

United States Distribution

In the United States, this species occurs in Arizona, southern California, southwestern New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah; within California, it lives in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts.

Mexico Distribution

In Mexico, it is found in northwestern Baja California and Sonora.

Habitat Range Overview

The western banded gecko occupies a wide range of habitats.

Specific Habitat Types

These include creosote bush and sagebrush desert, pinyon-juniper woodland, and catclaw-cedar-grama grass associations in the eastern portion of its range, and chaparral areas in the western portion.

Elevational Range

Its elevational range extends from below sea level to approximately 1,520 m (4,990 ft) above sea level.

Preferred Habitats and Substrates

It most commonly lives in open arid deserts and grasslands, and can be found on substrates ranging from rocky sheltered areas to sandy dunes and arroyos.

Breeding Season

Western banded geckos breed in April and May.

Egg Laying Pattern

From May through September, females lay one to three clutches of eggs, with each clutch containing exactly two eggs.

Egg Incubation Period

Eggs hatch approximately 45 days after being laid.