On the island of Rábida, in the Galápagos archipelago, a small inhabitant was rediscovered who had been thought of for millennia: the gecko from the Mares leaf fingers (Phyllodactylus maresi). His latest “appearance” on the island dates back to the olcene, according to fossil remains dated about 5,000 years ago. Yet today, between the rocks and the arid vegetation, this tiny reptile has returned to show itself in the eyes of science.
The rediscovery of the Geco from the Mares leaf fingers was documented in a study published in the magazine Plos One who analyzed individuals observed during the scientific shipments of 2019 and 2021.
After 5,000 Years, It’s back! Meet The Leaf-Toed Gecko-Once Thought to Be Extingu on Rábida Island in the …
Posted by Island Conservation On Tuesday, July 22, 2025
The research team, made up of experts from the QCAZ museum of the Catholic University of Ecuador, Island Conservation, Parque Nacional Galápagos and other entities, has collected morphological and genetic data to ascertain the identity of the population.
A well -ended environmental restoration project
The reappearance of the Geco was not the result of the case, but the concrete result of an environmental restoration project started in 2011. The goal: to eliminate invasive rodents – in particular the rats introduced by man – who threatened the native species of the island.
Once these predators have been removed, the ecological conditions have changed rapidly, opening the way to the rebirth of many species, including the Geco. A concrete proof that eliminating threats can allow species in difficulty to resume your natural space.
A unique population of its kind
Despite the Phyllodactylus maresi It was already known on other islands of the archipelago, such as Santiago or Bartolomé, the population of Rábida has significant genetic differences. The morphological and genetic analyzes have in fact confirmed that it is a distinct evolutionary unit. This makes the small reptile even more precious from the point of view of the conservation of biodiversity.
A lesson of hope
The case of the Geco di Mares shows that, when dealing with environmental threats in a strategic way, nature can surprise. As Paula Castaño of Island Conservation pointed out, nature has an extraordinary ability to regenerate itself if we give it space and time. And the islands, although fragile, can become ecological resilience workshops. The return of this species teaches that it is still possible to remedy the damage, if you act in time and with vision.
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