# Lygodactylus williamsi The Williams' Dwarf Gecko is a tiny lizard with bright blue and yellow colors. They are very small and love to climb around in trees and bushes, making them fun to spot in their homes. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Lygodactylus williamsi](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Female_Lygodactylus_williamsi.jpg&width=800) Photo: WingedWolfPsion, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Female_Lygodactylus_williamsi.jpg) ## Appearance The Lygodactylus williamsi is a tiny, striking gecko, with males displaying brilliant electric-blue bodies and black throat stripes. Females are typically olive-green to bronze, making them visually distinct. Their flattened bodies and bright colors are unique among small geckos. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Gekkonidae - **Genus:** Lygodactylus ## Interesting facts - Male geckos flash incredible electric-blue colors to attract mates! - These geckos are only found in one small forest in Tanzania! - These tiny geckos often lay their two sticky eggs inside bromeliad plants! - They keep their eyes clean by licking them with their tiny tongues! ## Special abilities - **Tail Escape:** Lygodactylus williamsi can drop its tail when threatened, distracting predators while it makes a quick getaway to safety. - **Mood Colors:** Lygodactylus williamsi can change its skin color slightly to communicate its mood or blend into its surroundings. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 6-8.5 cm - **Weight:** 0.002-0.005 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Clutch Size:** 1-2 - **Incubation:** 60-90 days ## Diet & Feeding These small geckos mostly eat tiny insects and other small invertebrates they find. - **Primary Foods:** fruit flies, small spiders, aphids, ants, small beetles - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Kirtland's Twig Snake (*Thelotornis kirtlandii*) — This arboreal snake hunts small lizards in the forest canopy. - **Eaten by:** Olive Thrush (*Turdus olivaceus*) — A common forest bird that preys on small geckos and insects. - **Eats:** Black Spiny Ant (*Pachycondyla sennaarensis*) — Feeds on these common ants found crawling on leaves. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch geckos from a distance and do not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Lygodactylus williamsi? Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Lygodactylus williamsi? 6-8.5 cm ### How much does Lygodactylus williamsi weigh? 0.002-0.005 kg ### How long does Lygodactylus williamsi live? 5-10 years ### What does Lygodactylus williamsi eat? These small geckos mostly eat tiny insects and other small invertebrates they find. ### Where is Lygodactylus williamsi usually found? Forests ### How does Lygodactylus williamsi hunt? Foraging ### How many eggs does Lygodactylus williamsi lay? 1-2 ## Where to spot - [Zoo Saarbrücken](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-saarbrucken) — Saarland, DE · Zoo - [Zoologischer Garten Schwerin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoologischer-garten-schwerin) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Zoo ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Lygodactylus williamsi: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lygodactylus-williamsi)