[3] It is also known as the leaf-toed gecko (among many other species) or Raza Island leaf-toed gecko when referring to the subspecies from the Isla Rasa; at present, there are altogether four recognized subspecies, while several more have been recognized previously.

[1] P. xanti has vertical pupils, immovable eyelids, and leaf-like toe pads.

[3] The specific epithet, xanti, commemorate John Xantus,[5] a nineteenth century naturalist active in the United States of America.

[6] The subspecific names, sloani and zweifeli, are in honor of American herpetologists Allan John Sloan and Richard G. Zweifel, respectively.

[6] The accepted scientific name and original description were published in 1863 by Edward Drinker Cope.