lesser night gecko

The Lesser Night Gecko (Nactus coindemirensis) is a diminutive, nocturnal gecko endemic to Mauritius's offshore islets. Adults reach only about 33 mm in snout–vent length. Once thought extinct due to invasive predators, the species was rediscovered on Gunner’s Quoin after predator eradication in the mid-1990s. Currently, approximately 18,000 adult geckos survive across four islets, with conservation efforts—including predator removal and translocation—stabilizing populations. Despite this success, the gecko remains Vulnerable, with its survival contingent upon continued invasive species control and habitat protection. Its extremely limited range renders it highly susceptible to extreme weather events and anthropogenic disturbance.