Blyde Rondavel Flat Gecko

Blyde Rondavel Flat Gecko Latest News

The Blyde Rondavel Flat Gecko, a flat-bodied lizard species, was rediscovered in April 2025 in the Blyde River Canyon, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, after being unrecorded for 34 years.

About Blyde Rondavel Flat Gecko

• The Blyde Rondavel Flat Gecko is 8–9 cm long when fully grown.
• It is likely rock-dwelling, with adaptations suited to cliffs and isolated habitats, explaining its elusiveness.
• It was originally discovered in 1991, but has not been sighted again, leading to speculation about its extinction or doubts regarding its distinct species status.
• The gecko was previously listed as a "Data Deficient" species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to a lack of sufficient sightings or information.
• The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) confirmed the rediscovery through a research expedition to an inaccessible rocky outcrop of the canyon where the gecko was first found.
• This gecko is the fifth animal rediscovered in recent years by the Endangered Wildlife Trust, following:
  • A dune mole (rediscovered after 80 years),
  • A butterfly, a lizard, and a frog species, all previously thought to be lost.

Blyde Rondavel Flat Gecko FAQs

Q1: What is the Blyde Rondavel Flat Gecko?
Ans: The Blyde Rondavel Flat Gecko is a small 8–9 cm long lizard species, likely adapted to rocky cliff habitats.

Q2: Where was it rediscovered?

Ans: It was rediscovered by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) on an inaccessible rocky outcrop in Blyde River Canyon, South Africa.

Source: PHY