Van Son's Thick-toed Gecko

Van Son's Thick-toed Gecko

Pachydactylus vansoni

Silhouette: Emmanuel Jimenez · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
at iSimangaliso Wetland Park
2 Verified sightings at iSimangaliso Wetland Park From 2019 to 2026
6 Verified sightings across all 2 parks From 2019 to 2026
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Van Son's Thick-toed Gecko

Pachydactylus vansoni, commonly known as Van Son's gecko or Van Son's thick-toed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Southern Africa. The specific name, vansoni, is in honor of Russian-born Dutch entomologist Georges Van Son (1898-1967), who worked at the Transvaal Museum (1925-1967).

P. vansoni is distributed in Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe. The geographic range of this species is estimated to be larger than 100,000 km2 (38,610 sq mi). The preferred natural habitats of P. vansoni are grassland and savanna, at altitudes from sea level to 2,300 m (7,500 ft).

P. vansoni is oviparous. Barts M, Colacicco F (2015). "Die Dickfingergeckos des südlichen Afrikas. Tiel XVII: Pachydactylus vansoni FITZSIMONS, 1933 ". Sauria 37 (1): 41–48. (in German). Branch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Pachydactylus vansoni, pp. 262–263 + Plate 83).

FitzSimons VFM (1933... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
2 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
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