Turniptail Gecko

Thecadactylus rapicauda

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassSquamata
FamilyPhyllodactylidae (Phyllodactylid Geckos)
GenusThecadactylus (Turniptail Geckos)
SpeciesThecadactylus rapicauda (Turniptail Gecko)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Tikal National Park

2 Verified sightings at Tikal National Park From 2019 to 2026

465 Verified sightings across all 38 parks From 2019 to 2026

🌙 Nocturnal When it's spotted during nighttime hours (6pm–6am)

About the Turniptail Gecko

The turnip-tailed gecko (Thecadactylus rapicauda) is a species of gecko widely distributed from Mexico southward through Central America and into South America as far south as Brazil, and on many islands in the Lesser Antilles. It was long thought to be the only member of its genus, until T. solimoensis was described in 2007.

It is a large gecko, reaching a length of 120 mm snout-to-vent. Its color varies from pale to dark gray to deep orange. Individuals can also change color. It can vocalize a series of chirps, which it mainly does while active at night. Its name comes from its swollen tail, which is used to store fat. It also waves its tail as a sign of aggression, and can shed its tail to distract predators. They are nocturnal in nature and are frequently found 5–30 feet up the trunks of palm trees.

It is called tai-marɛɁa in the Kwaza language of Rondônia, Brazil. Predators of T. rapicauda include the phyllostomid bat, Chrotopterus auritus. Parasites of T. rapicauda include the malarial parasite Plasmodium aurulentum.

Media related to Thecadactylus rapicauda at Wikimedia Commons Thecadactylus... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Main Ridge Forest Reserve	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	~70%
2	Brownsberg Nature Park	🇸🇷 Suriname	~60%
3	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~50%
4	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
5	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
6	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
7	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~20%
8	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
9	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
10	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~20%
11	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~20%
12	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
13	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
14	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
15	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
16	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
17	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
18	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
19	Utría National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
20	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
21	San Lorenzo Protected Forest	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
22	Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	🇧🇿 Belize	Insufficient data
23	Anavilhanas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
24	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	Insufficient data
25	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
26	Coiba National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
27	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	Insufficient data
28	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
29	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
30	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
31	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	Insufficient data
32	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
33	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
34	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
35	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
36	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
37	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
38	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data

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