Great news has arrived in the Galápagos, and it comes in the form of an adorable (and secretive) little lizard! The leaf-toed gecko was thought to have vanished from Rábida Island, but a new scientific paper reveals that the tiny reptile is back and thriving. Their comeback story points to the resilience and fragility of this beautiful corner of the world.

Leaf-toed geckos measure a little over three inches long and mostly make their appearances at nighttime. For decades, scientists believed that the geckos were wiped from the island prior to humans’ arrival in the early 1500s: no one had ever caught a glimpse of the nocturnal reptiles, and the only proof of their existence came from fossilized remains that were at least 5,000 years old. It turns out, these little creatures just need a fighting chance.

Because the Galápagos region is so remote, its wildlife rests on a delicate balance. The islands’ lack of natural predators has allowed for large, friendly animals to evolve, but it also means species are highly vulnerable—and when pirates and whalers arrived in the 17th century, there was more than stolen treasure stowed on their ships. Invasive rats soon scurried from the sailors’ boats and swarmed the fragile ecosystem, causing a biological nightmare. The rodents took over multiple islands and decimated species as they feasted on the eggs of native birds and reptiles. 

It wasn’t until scientists embarked on a daring extermination plan of the invasive rats that local species were given a fighting chance. In 2012, just months after the eradication, a researcher spotted a living leaf-toed gecko. That first specimen was briefly collected and then lost to science, leaving behind only a tantalizing clue. Could it be possible that this “extinct” reptile had been hiding in plain sight all along?

The answer came years later. According to the newly-released paper, surveys in 2019 and 2021 turned up not one, but multiple individuals. DNA analysis confirmed their identity, meaning the elusive Rábida Island leaf-toed gecko was alive, thriving, and genetically distinct enough to be considered a unique population. In other words, Rábida wasn’t just home to any gecko—it was home to its own gecko, one that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. 

“The return of this gecko highlights nature’s incredible power to heal itself when given the chance,” says Paula Castaño, the Impact Program Manager at Island Conservation.

And these tiny reptiles aren’t the only ones reclaiming their natural home. Across the Galápagos, similar success stories are unfolding, from pink iguanas on Isabela to flightless cormorants on Fernandina. 

According to Castaño, “It’s another example of the recovery we’ve seen on islands worldwide: when you rebalance an ecosystem, it can bounce back quickly and dramatically.”

Article by Emily Topping
Images courtesy of Island Conservation

Rábida is a stop on the Eastern Route of our Galápagos Islands journeys.

More to Explore: