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Home/Species/ Texas Banded Gecko

Coleonyx brevis

Stejneger, 1893

Texas Banded Gecko

G5Secure Found in 4 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.106095
Element CodeARACD01010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyGekkonidae
GenusColeonyx
Other Common Names
Texas banded gecko (EN)
Concept Reference
Grismer, L. L. 1988. Phylogeny, taxonomy, classification, and biogeography of eublepharid geckos. Pages 369-469 in R. Estes and G. Pregill, eds. Phylogenetic relationships of the lizard families. Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford, California. xii + 631 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
For many years Coleonyx geckos were placed in the family Gekkonidae. In a cladistic analysis of the Gekkonoidea, Kluge (1987) placed the genus Coleonyx in the family Eublepharidae (subfamily Eublepharinae), recognized as distinct from the Gekkonidae. Bartlett and Bartlett (1999), Grismer (2002), and Stebbins (2003) likewise placed Coleonyx in the Eublepharidae, whereas Dixon (2000) retained Coleonyx in the Gekkonidae.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-07-02
Change Date1996-10-23
Edition Date2025-07-02
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G. (2005); rev. R. L. Gundy (2025)
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Range Extent Comments
This species occurs in the southwestern United States and northern México. In the U.S., it is found in southeastern New Mexico and southwestern Texas (Degenhardt et al. 1996, Bartlett and Bartlett 1999, Dixon 2000, Stebbins 2003). In México, it is found in Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nueva León, Tamaulipas, and northern Zapatecas (Flores-Villela 1998, Lemos-Espinal and Smith 2016, Lemos-Espinal et al. 2016, Nevárez-de los Reyes et al. 2016, Terán-Juárez et al. 2016, Lemos-Espinal et al. 2017, Lemos-Espinal et al. 2018). Range extent is estimated to be 501,900 km² (GBIF 2025, RARECAT 2025).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by many occurrences. It is known from about 40 counties in Texas (virtually all of the counties within the range extent in Texas), and at least two dozen collection sites in New Mexico (Degenhardt et al. 1996). It is widespread within the range in México.
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats have been identified. Conversion to agriculture is a localized threat, especially along the border with Texas and Tamaulipas. A warming climate may impact the activity period and availability of suitable daytime refugia for this nocturnal gecko (Sears et al. 2016, Pilliod et al. 2024).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Habitats include rocky limestone foothills with desert scrub vegetation such as creosotebush, acacia, and juniper (Degenhardt et al. 1996); canyons, creviced escarpments, and low earthen hills. The species is particularly common in areas of flat rock and succulent vegetative debris. When inactive, individuals hide under rocks, debris, or in crevices (Smith 1946, Bartlett and Bartlett 1999), and they may be found under debris near human habitations (Bartlett and Bartlett 1999). Eggs are laid probably underground or under rocks.

Reproduction

Lays clutches of 2 eggs, April to June.
Terrestrial Habitats
Shrubland/chaparralDesertBare rock/talus/scree
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
New MexicoS4Yes
TexasS5Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureSmall (1-10%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber cropsSmall (1-10%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11.3 - Temperature extremesPervasive (71-100%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (4)
New Mexico (4)
AreaForestAcres
Last Chance CanyonLincoln National Forest8,934
Ortega PeakLincoln National Forest11,545
South Guadalupe MountainsLincoln National Forest20,930
West Face Sacramento MountainsLincoln National Forest41,176
References (30)
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  2. Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719 pp.
  3. Collins, J. T. 1990. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians and reptiles. 3rd ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 19. 41 pp.
  4. Conant, R. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Second Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. xvii + 429 pp.
  5. Conant, R., and J. T. Collins. 1998. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition, expanded. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 616 pp.
  6. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Sixth edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular 37:1-84. Online with updates at: http://www.ssarherps.org/pages/comm_names/Index.php
  7. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2012. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 7th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 39:1-92.
  8. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  9. Degenhardt, W. G., C. W. Painter, and A. H. Price. 1996. Amphibians and reptiles of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. xix + 431 pp.
  10. Dial, B. E., and L. L. Grismer. 1992. A phylogenetic analysis of physiological-ecological character evolution in the lizard genus <i>Coleonyx </i>and its implications for historical biogeographic reconstruction. Syst. Biol. 41:178-195.
  11. Dixon, J. R. 1970. Coleonyx brevis. Cat. Am. Amph. Rep. 88.1-88.2.
  12. Dixon, J. R. 2000. Amphibians and reptiles of Texas. Second edition. Texas A & M University Press, College Station. 421 pp.
  13. Flores-Villela, O. 1998. Formación de una base de datos y elaboración de un atlas de la herpetofauna de México. Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Bases de datos SNIB-CONABIO, proyecto A014. México, D. F.
  14. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  15. Grismer, L. L. 1988. Phylogeny, taxonomy, classification, and biogeography of eublepharid geckos. Pages 369-469 in R. Estes and G. Pregill, eds. Phylogenetic relationships of the lizard families. Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford, California. xii + 631 pp.
  16. Grismer, L. L. 2002. Amphibians and reptiles of Baja California including its Pacific islands and islands in the Sea of Cortes. University of California Press, Berkeley. xiii + 399 pp.
  17. Kluge, A. G. 1987. Cladistic relationships in the Gekkonoidea (Squamata, Sauria). Univ. Michigan Museum Zoology Miscellaneous Publication No. 173.
  18. Lemos-Espinal, J. A., and G. R. Smith. 2016. Amphibians and reptiles of the state of Coahuila, Mexico, with comparison with adjoining states. ZooKeys 593: 117–137. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.594.8289
  19. Lemos-Espinal, J. A., G. R. Smith, and A. Cruz. 2016. Amphibians and reptiles of the state of Nuevo León, Mexico. ZooKeys 594: 123–141. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.594.8289
  20. Lemos-Espinal, J. A., G. R. Smith, G. A. Woolrich-Piña, and A. Cruz. 2017. Amphibians and reptiles of Chihuahua, Mexico, with comparisons with adjoining states. ZooKeys 658: 105-130.
  21. Lemos-Espinal, J. A., G. R. Smith, H. Gadsden-Esparza, R. Valdez-Lares, and G. A. Woolrich-Piña. 2018. Amphibians and reptiles of the state of Durango, Mexico, with comparisons with adjoining states. ZooKeys 748: 65–87. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.748.22768
  22. Nevárez-de los Reyes, M., D. Lazcano, E. García-Padilla, V. Mata-Silva, J. D. Johnson, and L. D. Wilson. 2016. The herpetofauna of Nuevo León, Mexico: composition, distribution, and conservation. Mesoamerican Herpetology 3(3): 558-638.
  23. Parker, W. S. 1972. Aspects of the ecology of a Sonoran Desert population of the western banded gecko, <i>Coleonyx variegatus</i> (Sauria, Eublepharinae). The American Midland Naturalist 88(1): 209-224.
  24. Pilliod, D. S., M. I. Jeffires, R. S. Arkle, and D. H. Olson. 2024. Climate futures for lizards and snakes in western North America may result in new species management issues. Ecology and Evolution 14: e70379. doi: 10.1002/ece3.70379
  25. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  26. Sears, M. W., M. L. Angilletta Jr., M. S. Schuler, J. Borchert, K. F. Dilliplane, M. Stegman, T. W. Rusch, and W. A. Mitchell. 2016. Configuration of the thermal landscape determines thermoregulatory performance of ectotherms. PNAS 113(38): 10595-10600. doi: 10.1073/pnas.160482411
  27. Smith, H. M. 1946. Handbook of lizards. Lizards of the United States and Canada. Cornell univ. Press, Ithaca. xxi + 557 pp.
  28. Stebbins, R. C. 2003. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
  29. Terán-Juárez, S. A., E. García-Padilla, V. Mata-Silva, J. D. Johnson, and L. D. Wilson. 2016. The herpetofauna of Tamaulipas, Mexico: composition, distribution, and conservation status. Mesoamerican Herpetology 3(1): 43-113.
  30. Wilson, L. D., J. D. Johnson, and V. Mata-Silva. 2013. A conservation reassessment of the amphibians of Mexico based on the EVS measure. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 7(1):97-127.