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Atlas Day Gecko
Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus
Endemic to the High Atlas mountains of Morocco, this unique diurnal gecko is adapted to extreme alpine conditions. It requires high-intensity UVB, intense basking spots, and significant nighttime temperature drops in a rocky setup.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Sphaerodactylidae
Genus:Quedenfeldtia
Species:Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
40 - 60 %
Day temperature
20 - 25 °C
Night temperature
10 - 15 °C
Adult size
4.63 cm
UVB
Medium
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus is endemic to the High Atlas mountain range of Morocco. This species occurs at exceptionally high altitudes for a gecko, typically between 1,200 and 4,000 meters above sea level. Its habitat consists of steep rocky cliffs, scree slopes, and stone piles exposed to intense sunlight, experiencing snow in winter and wide daily temperature fluctuations.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belonging to the family Sphaerodactylidae and the genus Quedenfeldtia, it is commonly known as the Atlas Day Gecko. It has developed unique evolutionary adaptations to survive the harsh alpine conditions of its habitat, making it genetically and morphologically distinct from most other Mediterranean and North African geckos.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly diurnal, which is uncommon among geckos. It spends the early morning hours basking intensely on sun-exposed rock faces to raise its body temperature to active levels. It is an exceptionally agile and fast climber, diving into narrow rock crevices at the slightest sign of danger or disturbance.
Morphology: A small gecko, reaching a maximum total length of 8 to 10 cm, including the tail. The body is flattened dorsoventrally to allow easy entry into narrow rock fissures. The eyes feature round pupils and prominent scaly eyelids. Its coloration is dark brown, grey, or blackish with mottled light markings, which aids in camouflage and rapid heat absorption.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires an enclosure with a mix of vertical and horizontal space, measuring at least 50x40x60 cm. The interior must simulate a rocky cliff face, utilizing securely stacked stone slabs, slate, and a structured rock background with numerous crevices. Use a dry substrate of coarse sand, gravel, and small stones.
Lighting and Heating: High-intensity UVB lighting (5.0 or 10.0) is mandatory for 10-12 hours daily to replicate high-altitude solar radiation. Provide a localized basking spot of 28-30°C (82-86°F), while keeping the cool side around 20-22°C (68-72°F). A significant nighttime temperature drop to 12-15°C (53-59°F) is essential to mimic alpine nights.
Humidity and Hydration: Keep ambient humidity low during the day (40-50%) with an increase at night. Spray the enclosure lightly with water in the morning and evening, allowing the geckos to lick water droplets from rock surfaces. A shallow water bowl must be provided, though they prefer drinking from misted stones.
Feeding and Supplementation: Insectivorous. Feed a variety of small, active live insects such as fruit flies, micro-crickets, springtails, and small mealworms. Prey items must be gut-loaded and dusted with a high-quality calcium and vitamin D3 supplement at least twice a week to support healthy bone development.
Compatibility: Can be housed individually, in pairs, or in a small harem of one male and two females in a sufficiently large enclosure. Males are territorial and must never be housed together. Due to their rapid speed, flighty temperament, and small size, they are display animals and should not be handled.
Health and Common Diseases: The biggest risk is overheating; ambient temperatures exceeding 32°C (90°F) without cool retreats can be fatal to this cold-adapted alpine species. Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) is another risk if UVB lighting is outdated or calcium is lacking. Ensure excellent cross-ventilation to prevent respiratory issues.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus is endemic to the High Atlas mountain range of Morocco. This species occurs at exceptionally high altitudes for a gecko, typically between 1,200 and 4,000 meters above sea level. Its habitat consists of steep rocky cliffs, scree slopes, and stone piles exposed to intense sunlight, experiencing snow in winter and wide daily temperature fluctuations.
Origin
Africa and Madagascar
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 4.63 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 4.63 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 4.63 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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