CoP17 Prop. 30

Inclusion of Turquoise Dwarf Gecko Lygodactylus williamsi in Appendix I
Proponents: United Republic of Tanzania and European Union
Summary: The Turquoise Dwarf Gecko Lygodactylus williamsi is a species endemic to eastern Tanzania
where it is known to occur in four isolated tropical lowland forest patches (Kimboza, Ruvu, Mbagalala andMuhalama) in the Uluguru foothills in the Morogoro Region. Within these forests it exclusively occurs on aspecies of screwpine Pandanus rabaiensis. It has an estimated area of occurrence of 20km² and area ofoccupancy of 8km². The species exhibits distinct sexual dichromatism; males have a striking turquoise-blueback while females and immature males are a greenish-bronze. Reproduction is reported to occur
throughout the year with a relatively high output of offspring. Generation time is not known.
The only available quantified information on population status is for that in the Kimboza Forest Reserve,
estimated in 2009 at around 150,000 adults based on visual encounter surveys and mean number ofspecimens found per P. rabaiensis. Populations elsewhere have not been quantified; those in the Mbagalalaand Muhalama forest patches are believed to be small due to the small number of P. rabaiensis trees.
The estimated population in Kimboza forest in 2009 was believed to be around one-third smaller than thecarrying capacity, based on the number of P. rabaiensis trees. If this represents an actual decline, this may
be a result of collection pressure for international trade, which has reportedly been high since 2004. Reportssuggest that some 22,000 were collected in 2005 and some 8000 per year in 2006 and 2007.
Despite legal protection (see below), the forests in which the species occurs are also reported to be affectedby logging, collection of firewood, conversion to agricultural land and mining of the limestone substrate on
which P. rabaiensis grows. There have also been reports that P. rabaiensis trees are cut down to collect thegeckos.
It has been offered for sale online in the recent past in the USA and in Europe, at prices of ca. USD 30-250
per individual. The species has been reported as relatively easy to breed in captivity and specimens reported
as captive-bred are offered for sale on the internet1,2.It has been reported that males can lose their striking
coloration in captivity, which may result in continuing demand for wild-caught individuals.
Kimboza and Ruvu are both Forest Reserves, protected under the 2002 Forest Act and managed by theTanzania Forest Service. Collection of wild specimens within these areas requires a license. According toofficials from the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, collection and export of L. williamsi has never been
licensed, indicating that all trade in it is illegal1,2. It has been reported that wild-caught specimens ofL. williamsi are frequently deliberately mislabelled and exported as Lygodactylus spp. or as L. capensis tofacilitate trade.
The species is classified in the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered (2012).
Analysis: Lygodactylus williamsi has a very restricted area of distribution in which the quality of habitat isdeclining. The abundance of the species is also likely declining, due to habitat loss, and possible due toillegal collection for the international per trade. It would therefore appear to meet the criteria for inclusion inAppendix I in Res. Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP16).
Reviewers: M. Bungard, S. Chng and S. Nash.
References:
Information not referenced in the Summary section is from the Supporting Statement.
1XE Currency Converter. (2016) Xe Currency Charts. http://www.xe.com/currencycharts. Viewed on16 May 2016.
2For example:

Backwater Reptiles (2016) Williams Blue Cave Gecko for Sale. http://www.backwaterreptiles.com/geckos/williams-bluecave-gecko-for-sale.html.
Black Jungle Terrarium (2016) GECKO- ELECTRIC BLUE LYGODACTYLUS WILLIAMSI.
http://www.blackjungleterrariumsupply.com/Gecko-Electric-Blue-Lygodactylus-williamsi_p_1740.html
Fauna Classifieds (2016) 8mo CBB Female Lygodactylus williamsi.
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=572373.
Living Art (2016) Lygodactylus williamsi for sale.
https://www.facebook.com/LivingArtbyFrankPayne/photos/pcb.757700834362632/757700784362637/?type=31

CoP17 Prop. 30

Reptile Forums (2016a) Eastern Lygodactylus williamsi Electric Blue Day Gecko for sale.
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/lizard-classifieds/937163-lygodactylus-williamsi-electric-blue-day.html.
Reptile Forums (2016b) FOR SALE: 2 Lygodactylus Williamsi Juvenile £45 (ONO).
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/lizard-classifieds/1060475-sale-2-lygodactylus-williamsi-juvenile.html.
Terraristik (2016) http://www.terraristik.com/. 19 May 2016; Snakes at Sunset. (2016). Electric Blue Geckos for sale
(Lygodactylus williamsi). http://snakesatsunset.com/electric-blue-geckos-for-sale-lygodactylus-williamsi/.
All viewed on 23rd May 2016.

2