Swan Islands Croaking Gecko
Aristelliger nelsoni
- Endangered
- Card rarity: Epic
- Reptiles
Aristelliger nelsoni is a species of gecko in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Swan Islands of Honduras. It was often considered a subspecies of Aristelliger praesignis prior to genetic testing establishing it as a separate species. It is rated as Endangered by the IUCN, owing to its small geographic range and strong recent population decline. This population decline is likely a result of competition with Hemidactylus frenatus, which was introduced to Great Swan Island in 2007. Future development of the Swan Islands by the Honduran military or commercial enterprises would also threaten the survival of the species.
Classification
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Squamata
- Family
- Sphaerodactylidae
- Genus
- Aristelliger