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Reptilia    Squamata (part-other lizards)    Phyllodactylidae  
Peninsular Leaf-toed Gecko
Phyllodactylus nocticolus Dixon, 1964
FIL-oh-DAK-til-us — nok-tih-KOH-lus
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SSAR 9th Edition Comments:
 The standard English name of this species is returned to that used in the 5th and 6th editions of this list (which used “Peninsular” rather than “Peninsula”). (de Queiroz, Kevin and Lauren M. Chan. 2025. Squamata (excluding snakes) – Lizards. Pages 23-37 in Kirsten E. Nicholson (Editor), Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, 9th Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Lawrence, Kansas. 87 pp.)

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Open icons indicate questionable records, including those with coordinate uncertainty greater than 10,000 m (approximately 6 miles). Click a marker to view metadata.
Occurrences:; 746 Total; 521 Museum; 225 Other

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Shaded range maps are based on curated specimens and provided gratis by CNAH. (Version: 2023.04.10.08.04.18)
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Province/State Distribution:
United States: California

Taxonomic Etymology:
A gecko with leaf-like toes and nocturnal habits.
Phyllodactylus — From Greek phyllon (φύλλον), “leaf,” and daktylos (δάκτυλος), “finger.” The name means “leaf-fingered,” referring to the flattened toe pads that resemble leaves.
nocticolus — From Latin nocti- (“night”) and -colus (“inhabiting” or “dwelling”). Means “night-dwelling,” referring to the gecko’s nocturnal behavior.

First instance(s) of published English names:
Mexican Leaf-fingered Gecko (Phyllodactylus tuberculosus: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.);


Selected References:
1964 Dixon, James R. The systematics and distribution of lizards of the genus Phyllodactylus in North and Central America. Scientific Bulletin 64-1. Research Center, New Mexico State University, University Park, New Mexico. 139pp.
1973 Dixon, James R. Phyllodactylus.. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (141):1-2

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