Cape Cross Thick-toed Gecko

Cape Cross Thick-toed Gecko

Pachydactylus kochii

Silhouette: Emmanuel Jimenez · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Namib-Naukluft National Park
12 Verified sightings at Namib-Naukluft National Park From 2019 to 2026
12 Verified sightings across 1 park From 2019 to 2026
December Best month highest sighting rate
🌙 Nocturnal When it's spotted during nighttime hours (6pm–6am)

About the Cape Cross Thick-toed Gecko

The Cape Cross thick-toed gecko (Pachydactylus kochii), also known commonly as Koch's gecko and Koch's thick-toed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to southern Africa. The specific name, kochii, is in honor of Austrian-born South African entomologist Charles Koch.

P. kochii is found in Namibia and in South Africa (southern Namaqualand). The preferred natural habitats of P. kochii are desert and savanna, at altitudes of 10–800 m (33–2,625 ft). Adults of P. kochii have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 4–5 cm (1.6–2.0 in). The body is slender. Dorsally, the ground color is grayish with a lavender tinge, and there are five reddish-brown crossbands. Ventrally it is white.

P. kochii is terrestrial. It shelters in burrows dug by other animals. P. kochii is oviparous. Bauer AM, Lamb T (2005). "Phylogenetic relationships of southern African geckos in the Pachydactylus group (Squamata: Gekkonidae)". African Journal of Herpetology 54 (2): 105–129. (Colopus kochii, new combination, p. 105).

FitzSimons V (1959... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Namib-Naukluft National Park

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~10%

More parks will be added in future updates.

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Cape Cross Thick-toed Gecko in Namib-Naukluft National Park?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Cross Thick-toed Gecko sighting in Namib-Naukluft National Park, based on 12 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Cape Cross Thick-toed Gecko in Namib-Naukluft National Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for Cape Cross Thick-toed Gecko in Namib-Naukluft National Park in our monthly data.

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