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Creation of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Gekkota Lizard Specialist Group

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 October 2025

Liliana Saboyá-Acosta Open the ORCID record for Liliana Saboyá-Acosta [Opens in a new window] ,
Thomas Ziegler Open the ORCID record for Thomas Ziegler [Opens in a new window] ,
Andrea Echeverry-Alcendra Open the ORCID record for Andrea Echeverry-Alcendra [Opens in a new window] ,
Jon Paul Rodríguez Open the ORCID record for Jon Paul Rodríguez [Opens in a new window]  and
Edgard Yerena Open the ORCID record for Edgard Yerena [Opens in a new window]
Liliana Saboyá-Acosta*
Affiliation:
Semillero de Ecología y Conservación de Anfibios y Reptiles SECAR, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia Fundación Gecos, Colombia IUCN Species Survival Commission, Caracas, Venezuela
Thomas Ziegler
Affiliation:
IUCN Species Survival Commission, Caracas, Venezuela Cologne Zoo, Cologne, Germany Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Andrea Echeverry-Alcendra
Affiliation:
Semillero de Ecología y Conservación de Anfibios y Reptiles SECAR, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia IUCN Species Survival Commission, Caracas, Venezuela Global Center for Species Survival, Indianapolis Zoological Society, Indianapolis, USA
Jon Paul Rodríguez
Affiliation:
IUCN Species Survival Commission, Caracas, Venezuela Provita, Caracas, Venezuela Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela
Edgard Yerena
Affiliation:
IUCN Species Survival Commission, Caracas, Venezuela Departamento de Biología, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela
*
(lilianasaboya@javeriana.edu.co)
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Abstract

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Information

Type
Conservation News
Information
Oryx , Volume 59 , Issue 3 , May 2025 , pp. 284 - 285
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence CC BY 4.0.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International

With nearly 2,400 species, the infraorder Gekkota represents over 31% of described lizard species. This group includes double-fingered geckos (Diplodactylidae, 201 species), legless geckos (Pygopodidae, 47 species), southern-padless geckos (Carphodactylidae, 34 species), eyelid geckos (Eublepharidae, 48 species), ball-fingered geckos (Sphaerodactylidae, 234 species), leaf-fingered geckos (Phyllodactylidae, 167 species) and common geckos (Gekkonidae, 1,658 species). Gekkota inhabit diverse habitats on all continents except Antarctica. Their wide distribution and richness expose them to multiple threats such as climate change, habitat loss, habitat clearing and fragmentation, as well as wildlife trade and use for traditional medicine.

Despite their diversity, the conservation status of many geckos remains unclear. Of the 2,389 known species, 374 are categorized as threatened on the IUCN Red List, with at least four assessed as extinct, and 577 remain unassessed. Most CITES-listed geckos are in Appendices II (22 species) and III (18 species). Additionally, 153 geckos have been prioritized by EDGE (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered) of Existence, a programme focusing on threatened species with significant unique evolutionary history. This limited representation on initiatives such as EDGE indicates the need for more comprehensive conservation planning.

To address these challenges, a new IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Gekkota Lizard Specialist Group was established in February 2025. This initiative examines critical conservation gaps and leverages the ecological significance of geckos as ecological indicators. The key objectives of the Specialist Group are: (1) A comprehensive conservation approach, covering all extant families of Gekkota, and promoting taxonomic cohesiveness and development of adaptable global conservation strategies. (2) Global collaboration, fostering international research and knowledge exchange, building on existing interests and events such as the Gekkota Mundi conference. (3) Targeted conservation efforts, including assessments for the IUCN Red List, and analyses of extinction risk and knowledge gaps. The establishment of the Gekkota Lizard Specialist Group meets a critical need for dedicated efforts in gecko conservation. The new specialist group will consolidate global expertise and support for this ecologically significant infraorder. For further inquiries, please contact the Specialist Groups Co-chairs Liliana Saboyá-Acosta and Thomas Ziegler.