Published October 10, 2019. Updated February 1, 2026. Open access. Peer-reviewed. | Purchase book ❯ |
Simpson’s Leaf-toed Gecko (Phyllodactylus simpsoni)
Reptiles of Ecuador | Sauria | Phyllodactylidae | Phyllodactylus simpsoni
English common name: Simpson’s Leaf-toed Gecko.
Spanish common names: Geco de Simpson, salamanquesa de Simpson.
Recognition: ♂♂ 10 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. ♀♀ 9.6 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail..1 Phyllodactylus simpsoni is the only gecko within its range characterized by blunt, barely expanded fingertips.1 The dorsal coloration is typically pale grayish-brown with irregular dark blotches and scattered white tubercles (Fig. 1). It is generally the only gecko species encountered in its native habitat. However, in urban areas of Isabela Island, it has been found sympatric with four other species (Hemidactylus frenatus, Lepidodactylus lugubris, P. reissii, and Gonatodes caudiscutatus), all of which possess distinct fingertip shapes.
Figure 1: Individuals of Phyllodactylus simpsoni from Puerto Villamil () and Tagus Cove (), Isabela Island, Galápagos, Ecuador. j=juvenile.
Natural history: Phyllodactylus simpsoni is a nocturnal, primarily terrestrial gecko. It inhabits seasonally dry forests, dry shrublands, and grasslands, though it rarely re-colonizes barren landscapes recently affected by volcanic activity.1 These geckos forage at ground level or on rocks, lava blocks, tree trunks, branches, fence posts, and building walls up to 5 m above the ground.1 During the day, they remain concealed beneath rocks, old tortoise shells, tree bark, or cactus stumps. Eggs have been recorded beneath rocks and in tree holes up to 3 m high in mangrove trees growing on the beach.2 Documented predators include mockingbirds, snakes (Pseudalsophis occidentalis),3 feral cats, and black rats.1
Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances.. As a recently described species, Phyllodactylus simpsoni has not yet been formally evaluated by the IUCN Red List. It is categorized here as LC due to its wide distribution across Isabela and Fernandina islands and the lack of evidence for significant population declines.1 Nonetheless, the species may face displacement by invasive geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus and P. reissii) in urban centers, as well as predation by domestic cats. Consequently, it may qualify for a threatened category in the future if these pressures intensify.
Distribution: Phyllodactylus simpsoni is endemic to the western Galápagos Islands, occurring on Isabela, Fernandina, Cowley Islet, and Tortuga Islet (Fig. 2).
Figure 2: Distribution of Phyllodactylus simpsoni in Galápagos. The star corresponds to the type locality: Puerto Villamil. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.
Etymology: The generic name Phyllodactylus is derived from the Greek words phyllon (=leaf) and daktylos (=finger),4 referring to the leaf-shaped toes characteristic of this genus. The specific name simpsoni honors Dr. Nigel Simpson for his visionary leadership in conservation. Dr. Simpson is a founding board member of the Ecuadorian organizations Fundación Jocotoco and Fundación Ecominga. His commitment to protecting entire ecosystems—from birds and orchids to frogs and moths—was pivotal in establishing a network of private reserves in Ecuador.1
See it in the wild: Phyllodactylus simpsoni can be observed year-round on the outskirts of Puerto Villamil, with an encounter rate of approximately 1–5 individuals every two nights. The optimal time for sightings is just after sunset, when they emerge to forage on rocky surfaces.
Author: Alejandro ArteagaaAffiliation: Fundación Khamai, Reserva Arlequín, Ecoruta Paseo del Quinde km 56, Santa Rosa de Mindo, Pichincha 171202, Ecuador.
Academic reviewers: Miguel Vences,bAffiliation: Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany. Alex Pyron,cAffiliation: George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA. and Claudia KochdAffiliation: Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany.
Photographers: Jose VieiraeAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.,fAffiliation: ExSitu, Quito, Ecuador. and Frank PichardoeAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.
How to cite? Arteaga A (2026) Simpson’s Leaf-toed Gecko (Phyllodactylus simpsoni). In: Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J (Eds) Reptiles of Ecuador: Life in the middle of the world. Available from: www.reptilesofecuador.com. DOI: 10.47051/GGFC5316
Literature cited:
- Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J, Tapia W, Carrión J, Guayasamin JM (2019) Two new species of leaf-toed geckos (Phyllodactylus) from Isabela Island, Galápagos Archipelago, Ecuador. In: Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J, Tapia W, Guayasamin JM (Eds) Reptiles of the Galápagos: Life on the Enchanted Islands. Tropical Herping, Quito, 174–187.
- Van Denburgh J (1912) Expedition of the California Academy of Sciences to the Galápagos Islands, 1905-1906. VI. The geckos of the Galápagos Archipelago. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 1: 405–430.
- Ortiz-Catedral L, Christian E, Skirrow MJA, Rueda D, Sevilla C, Kumar K, Reyes EMR, Daltry JC (2019) Diet of six species of Galapagos terrestrial snakes (Pseudalsophis spp.) inferred from faecal samples. Herpetology Notes 12: 701–704.
- Brown RW (1956) Composition of scientific words. Smithsonian Books, Washington, 882 pp.
Appendix 1: Locality data used to create the distribution map of Phyllodactylus simpsoni in Ecuador (Fig. 2). Go to the section on symbols and abbreviations for a list of acronyms used. Asterisk (*) indicates type locality.
| Country | Province | Locality | Source |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Banks Bay | Van Denburgh 1912 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Beach near the airport | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Cabo Douglas | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Cerro Azul, SW slope | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Cinco Cerros | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Cobos Settlement | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Cowley Island | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Eastern belt of Alcedo at 1800 feet | Fritts and Fritts 1982 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Eastern belt of Alcedo at 400 feet | Fritts and Fritts 1982 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Iguana Cove | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Isla Tortuga | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | La Cumbre Volcano | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Muro de las Lágrimas | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Northern rim of Wolf Volcano | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Playa Tortuga Negra | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Puerto Bravo | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Puerto Villamil* | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Punta Espinoza | Pozo et al. 2025 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Punta García | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Punta Vicente Roca | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Rim of Darwin Volcano | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Slopes of Darwin Volcano | Fritts and Fritts 1982 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Slopes of Sierra Negra | Fritts and Fritts 1982 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | SW corner of Isabela | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Tagus Cove | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Tomás de Berlanga | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Trail to Alcedo | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Volcán Alcedo, eastern slope | Pozo et al. 2025 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Volcán Wolf | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Western slope of Wolf Volcano* | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Wolf Volcano Camp 1 (Piedras Blancas) | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Wolf Volcano Camp 2 | Arteaga et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Galápagos | Wolf Volcano Camp 3 | Arteaga et al. 2019 |