Common name: Eastern Sand Gecko
Scientific name: Stenodactylus leptocosymbotes
Family: Gekkonidae

Size:
Body length: 4–6 cm
Tail length: 3–4 cm
Weight: Approximately 2–4 g

Identification:
A very small desert gecko with a slender body, large eyes, and delicate limbs adapted for moving across loose sand. The skin is covered with fine granular scales giving it a slightly velvety appearance. Coloration is typically pale sandy beige to light grey, often marked with faint darker bands or speckles that provide excellent camouflage against desert substrates. The tail is thin and relatively long, and the toes are slightly fringed to help with movement on sand.

Habitat:
Arid sandy deserts, gravel plains, and dune systems. Often found on open ground with sparse vegetation where its coloration blends closely with the surrounding sand. During the day it shelters under stones, in small burrows, or beneath debris.

Status in the UAE:
Native and relatively widespread in suitable desert habitats across the UAE, particularly in sandy and gravel desert environments. Often overlooked due to its small size and nocturnal habits.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds mainly on small insects such as ants, beetles, termites, and other tiny arthropods found on the desert surface at night.

Behavior:
Nocturnal and active after sunset when temperatures drop. Moves quickly across sand while hunting small insects. Like many geckos, it can shed its tail (autotomy) to escape predators, later regenerating a replacement.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)