---
title: "Turnip-tailed Gecko"
description: "Thecadactylus rapicauda — Reptielen. The turnip-tailed gecko (Thecadactylus rapicauda) is a species of gecko widely distributed from Mexico southward through Central America and into South America as far south as Brazil, and on many islands in the Lesser Antilles."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/nl/animal/northern-turniptail-gecko
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Turnip-tailed Gecko

> Thecadactylus rapicauda — Reptielen. The turnip-tailed gecko (Thecadactylus rapicauda) is a species of gecko widely distributed from Mexico southward through Central America and into South America as far south as Brazil, and on many islands in the Lesser Antilles.

- Scientific name: *Thecadactylus rapicauda*
- Category: `reptiles` (Reptielen)
- Habitats: `forest` (Bos), `jungle` (Jungle)
- iNaturalist observations: 4872
- Wikidata: [Q3018984](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3018984)
- iNaturalist taxon: [67967](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/67967)

## Names

- en: Northern Turniptail Gecko
- de: Rübenschwanzgecko
- es: Geco cola de nabo
- fr: Thécadactyle à queue turbinée
- nl: Turnip-tailed Gecko

## Countries with the most observations

CR (1319), CO (845), MX (499), TT (430), GF (244), PA (243), BR (237), BZ (129), BL (103), HN (91), EC (78), SR (49)

## Summary

The turnip-tailed gecko (Thecadactylus rapicauda) is a species of gecko widely distributed from Mexico southward through Central America and into South America as far south as Brazil, and on many islands in the Lesser Antilles. It was long thought to be the only member of its genus, until T. solimoensis was described in 2007.
It is a large gecko, reaching a length of 120 mm snout-to-vent.  Its color varies from pale to dark gray to deep orange.  Individuals can also change color.  It can vocalize a series of chirps, which it mainly does while active at night.  Its name comes from its swollen tail, which is used to…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnip-tailed_gecko

## Photo

![Turnip-tailed Gecko](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/northern-turniptail-gecko/medium.jpg)

Photo: Curtis Eckerman · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/310244170

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/northern-turniptail-gecko?lang=nl` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).