Gardner’s Leaf-toed Gecko
Gardner’s Leaf-toed Gecko \ Asaccus gardneri is a nocturnal mountain gecko found in the Hajar Mountains of the UAE and Oman. It has a flattened body, long limbs, large eyes, and expanded toe pads that help it move easily across rock surfaces. Unlike ground-dwelling desert geckos, this species is built for climbing, often appearing on boulders, wadi walls, and rocky slopes after dark. It is one of the larger Asaccus geckos, with a strong, agile appearance that makes it stand out among the UAE’s mountain reptiles.
Habitat and behavior
In the UAE, this gecko is closely linked to rocky Hajar Mountain habitats, especially wadis, stony slopes, large boulders, caves, and crevices. It is strictly nocturnal, hiding during the day and emerging at night to hunt insects and other small arthropods. When disturbed, it can move quickly across rock faces and disappear into narrow cracks. Gardner’s Leaf-toed Gecko is frequently found in the northern Hajar Mountains, often between around 100 and 600 meters elevation.
Why this species matters
This species represents the special reptile diversity of the Hajar Mountains. Gardner’s Leaf-toed Gecko was formally described in 2016 after studies showed that geckos once grouped under Asaccus caudivolvulus actually included separate species. Its range is not UAE-only, but it is still regionally important because it is found only in the Hajar Mountains of the UAE and Oman. For a UAE gecko gallery, it shows how the mountain landscape holds species that are very different from the open desert.