Common name: Keyserling’s Wonder Gecko
Scientific name: Teratoscincus keyserlingii
Family: Sphaerodactylidae

Size:
Total length: 15–20 cm

Identification:
A distinctive gecko with a somewhat bulky body and a relatively large head. The skin appears granular and is covered with small, bead-like scales. Coloration is sandy to pale brown with darker transverse bands or spots that provide camouflage in desert environments. The tail is thick and often banded, sometimes appearing slightly flattened. The eyes are large with vertical pupils, adapted for nocturnal activity.

Habitat:
Sandy deserts, dunes, and arid plains. Prefers loose sand where it can burrow or hide during the day.

Status in the UAE:
Native and locally present. Found in desert habitats, particularly in sandy areas.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds on insects and other small invertebrates.

Behavior:
Nocturnal and secretive. Spends the day in burrows or beneath the sand. Emerges at night to hunt. Moves with a distinctive gait compared to typical geckos. When threatened, may produce defensive movements or retreat quickly into sand.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)