Common name: Orlov’s Fan-footed Gecko
Scientific name: Ptyodactylus orlovi
Family: Phyllodactylidae

Size:
SVL (snout-to-vent length): up to 90 mm
Total length: approximately 18–22 cm

Identification:
A large fan-footed gecko with a robust body, large eyes, and distinctive fan-shaped toe pads adapted for climbing steep rock surfaces. Coloration is generally grey to pale brown with darker irregular markings that provide effective camouflage against cliffs and rocky outcrops. It closely resembles the Ruusaljibal Fan-footed Gecko (Ptyodactylus ruusaljibalicus), from which it was later separated based on genetic and geographic differences.

Habitat:
Rocky mountains, cliffs, wadis, escarpments, and boulder fields throughout the Hajar Mountains.

Status in the UAE:
Endemic to the Hajar Mountain range of the United Arab Emirates and northern Oman. Widely distributed in suitable rocky habitats across the central and southern Hajar Mountains.

Diet:
Insectivorous — feeds on moths, beetles, spiders, and other arthropods.

Behavior:
A nocturnal gecko commonly observed on rock faces and cliffs after sunset. It is an excellent climber, using its broad adhesive toe pads to move effortlessly across vertical surfaces. During daylight hours it remains hidden within cracks and crevices.

Conservation Status:
Least Concern (LC)

Endemism:
Endemic to the Hajar Mountains of the United Arab Emirates and northern Oman.