Diplodactylus tessellatus

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Diplodactylus tessellatus
D.tessellatus.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Diplodactylidae
Genus: Diplodactylus
Species:
D. tessellatus
Binomial name
Diplodactylus tessellatus
(Günther, 1875)

Diplodactylus tessellatus, commonly known as the tessellated gecko, is a small terrestrial lizard found distributed in inland New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia and the north western corner of Victoria. The tessellated gecko is one of 26 species in the genus Diplodactylus all of which are confined to continental Australia. A small gecko varying in colour from grey to rich reddish-brown with a highly variable dorsal pattern. [1]

Contents

Taxonomy & Phylogeny

The tessellated gecko was first described by a German-born British zoologist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist Albert Gunther in 1875. Diplodactylus tessellates is a species of geckos of the genus Diplodactylus within the family Diplodactylidae. Australian diplodactyline geckos are the only extant squamate group thought to have been in Australia before its separation from other east Gondwanan landmasses. D. tessellatus is thought to have speciated from Diplodactylus vittatus between 12–20 million years ago during the Miocene Epoch of the Neogene period. A sister taxon relationship between D. galeatus and D. tessellatus is supported. [2]

Description

Morphology

With an average adult length of 9 cm in length, the tessellated gecko has a moderate body a short fleshy tail with enlarged conical scales in rings. [3] Their body colours are varied from pale greys to rich reds with a highly variable pattern. Along the mid-dorsal region of the body and tail there is often irregular serious of pale yellow or blackish spots that are often in pairs. Pre-anal pores are absent with 4–13 post-anal tubercles. A trait common in other species of the genus Diplodactylus is the possession of slightly depressed, narrow long digits. Near the hind limb, males have a unique paracloacal spur positioned near the top of the hemipenal bulge. Hatchlings are often brighter and around 25–30% the average adult size.

Population & Ecology

In Kinchega National Park from 1985 to 1987 the life history and population ecology of the tessellated gecko was studied by Klaus Henle. The studies produced data showing there were short peaks of high mortality in spring or summer and low mortalities for the rest of the year, especially in winter when they are restricted or inactive. [4] Dispersal ranges for individuals are from 50–100 m from their birth site. They are most active from the spring months of September through to the end of May before hibernating during winter.

Habitat and distribution

A terrestrial gecko that is widely distributed throughout the drier reaching interiors of New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia and Victoria. During the day it may be found resting in habitats such as ground cracks, abandoned spider holes, crevices, under debris or fallen timber which all provide a camouflage from predation. Emerges at night to feed on insects. Can be quiet abundant in the right conditions such as black soiled flood plains of larger inland rivers. [5]

Diet

Being an arthropod food generalist, the main diet consists of species of the Orthoptera order (crickets and grass hoppers), spiders and Diptera species, with a favourite delicacy of termites. While widely foraging, D. tessellatus is a sit-and-wait predator often sitting at the same spot for hours. Before breeding and hibernation in winter, food intake will increase to help produce fat storage.

Breeding

Adult D. tessellatus in comparative to a hatchling Adult D. tessellatus in comparative to a hatchling.jpg
Adult D. tessellatus in comparative to a hatchling

The tessellated gecko will on average produce clutches of 2 eggs with an incubation period of around 50–60 days if under the right temperature conditions of around 28 degrees. The eggs average size is 13.5 mm long and 6.5 mm wide. The hatchlings average size is around 24 mm in total length and reach sexual maturity at one year old. Under favourable phenological conditions such as abundant food availability and stable climate, a healthy female can produce up to two clutches without any detrimental harm to her own fitness. In natural conditions the first clutch will be laid in November and the second in January with an observed egg mortality rate of 56%. Oviductal eggs can be detected by using the palpation method.

Threats

Introduced species

In Australia introduced species have caused the greatest number of extinctions. Exotic feral animals such as cats can have a negative effect on terrestrial geckos with mortality rates often correlating with predation at night. Ground foraging species such as D. tessellatus can often fall prey to an unsuspecting cat that has adapted to its environment. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Diplodactylus</i> genus of reptiles

Diplodactylus is a genus of geckos of the family Diplodactylidae from Australia. They are sometimes called stone geckos or fat-tailed geckos. Member species are morphologically similar but genetically distinct.

Beaded gecko species of reptile

The beaded gecko is a gecko endemic to Australia.

<i>Rhacodactylus leachianus</i> species of reptile

Rhacodactylus leachianus, commonly known as the New Caledonian giant gecko or Leach's giant gecko or colloquially Leachie, is a large species of gecko in the family Diplodactylidae. The species, which was first described by Georges Cuvier in 1829, is endemic to New Caledonia.

Common leopard gecko Species of reptile

The common leopard gecko is a cathemeral, ground-dwelling lizard native to the rocky dry grassland and desert regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, north-west India, and Iran. The common leopard gecko has become a popular pet, and due to extensive captive breeding is sometimes referred to as the first domesticated species of lizard.

The western beaked gecko is a species of gecko found throughout the interior of Australia.

Diamondback terrapin Species of reptile

The diamondback terrapin or simply terrapin is a species of turtle native to the brackish coastal tidal marshes of the eastern and southern United States, and in Bermuda. It belongs to the monotypic genus Malaclemys. It has one of the largest ranges of all turtles in North America, stretching as far south as the Florida Keys and as far north as Cape Cod.

Flatback sea turtle species of sea turtle

The Australian flatback sea turtle is a species of sea turtle in the family Cheloniidae. The species is endemic to the sandy beaches and shallow coastal waters of the Australian continental shelf. This turtle gets its common name from the fact that its shell has a flattened or lower dome than the other sea turtles. It can be olive green to grey with a cream underside. It averages from 76 to 96 cm in carapace length and can weigh from 70 to 90 kg. The hatchlings, when emerging from nests, are larger than other sea turtle hatchlings when they hatch. The flatback turtle is listed by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as data deficient, meaning there is insufficient scientific information to determine its conservation status at this time. It was previously listed as vulnerable in 1994. It is not as threatened as other sea turtles due to its small dispersal range.

<i>Diplodactylus vittatus</i> species of reptile

Diplodactylus vittatus, known as the wood gecko or eastern stone gecko is a small gecko found in New South Wales and Queensland. It usually eats insects around dusk, and shelters under cover during the day. When threatened, this species opens its mouth and stands up on all four legs. The eastern stone gecko reproduces during spring and summer. They have a maximum clutch size of two eggs but can have multiple clutches throughout the breeding season.

Diplodactylidae family of reptiles

The Diplodactylidae are a family in the suborder Gekkota (geckos), with about 137 species in 25 genera. These geckos occur in Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. Three diplodactylid genera have recently been split into multiple new genera

Lucasium steindachneri, commonly called the box-patterned gecko or Steindachner's gecko, is a species of nocturnal, medium-sized lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species has a pale strip with three patches of brown along its back. This gecko is terrestrial and only found in arid and semi-arid areas of continental Australia.

Northern spiny-tailed gecko species of reptile

The northern spiny-tailed gecko is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

Lucasium byrnei, commonly known as the gibber gecko or Byrne's gecko, is a species of small, nocturnal gecko, a lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

Lucasium stenodactylum, also known as the crowned gecko or pale-snouted ground gecko, is a species of gecko from Australia.

<i>Strophurus intermedius</i> species of reptile

Strophurus intermedius, also known commonly as the eastern spiny-tailed gecko or the southern spiny-tailed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to semi-arid regions of Australia in New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia, in mallee shrubland and woodland habitats.

Diplodactylus calcicolus, sometimes called the south coast gecko, is a gecko endemic to Australia.

<i>Diplodactylus conspicillatus</i> species of reptile

The variable fat-tailed gecko or burrow-plug gecko is a Diplodactylid gecko endemic to central and arid inland areas of Australia. Widespread across the continent, the variable fat-tailed is most commonly found in sandy desert habitats dominated by Spinifex grasses. They have also been bred in captivity by zoos and as pets.

Diplodactylus fulleri, sometimes called the Lake Disappointment ground gecko, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

Diplodactylus mitchelli, sometimes called commonly the Pilbara stone gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

Canterbury gecko species of reptile

The Canterbury gecko is a gecko found in the South Island of New Zealand. It is also known by the Maori names Waitaha gecko and Moko-pāpā, and as the Brown gecko. They were earlier placed in a different genus and called Hoplodactylus brunneus before further study split the genus Hoplodactylus into six genera, with some groups close to the former Hoplodactylus maculatus “Canterbury” being assigned to the new genus Woodworthia.

The wood mulch-slider or Mueller's three-toed lerista, is a species of lizard belonging to the extensive family Scincidae, a family containing over 1,500 species. The species is found in a diverse range of climates and habitats throughout Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. Named after the German-born Australian naturalist Baron Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich Müller (1825–1896), the species has been the subject of much morphological and nomenclature debate.

References

  1. Swanson, S. (2011). "Geckos (Diplodactylus tessellatus)". Field guide to Australian Reptiles. 2. Pascal Press. p. 48. ISBN   9781740217446.
  2. Oliver, Paul; Hugall, Andrew; Adams, Mark; Cooper, Steven J.B.; Hutchinson, Mark (2007). "Genetic elucidation of cryptic and ancient diversity in a group of Australian diplodactyline geckos: The Diplodactylus vittatus complex". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 44 (1): 77–88. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2007.02.002. PMID   17467299.
  3. Swanson, S. (2011). "Geckos (Diplodactylus tessellatus)". In Pascal Press (ed.). Field guide to Australian Reptiles. 2. p. 48. ISBN   9781740217446.
  4. Henle, Klaus (1990). "Population ecology and Life History of Three Terrestrial Geckos in Arid Australia". Copeia. 3 (1): 759–781. doi:10.2307/1446442. JSTOR   1446442.
  5. Cogger, H.G. (2014). "Diplodactylidae (Diplodactylus tessellatus)". Reptile & Amphibians of Australia. 7. CSIRO Publishing. p. 304. ISBN   9780643100350.
  6. Blumstein, D. T; Daniel, J. C (2005). "The loss of anti-predator behaviour following isolation on islands". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 272 (1573): 1663–1668. doi:10.1098/rspb.2005.3147. PMC   1559846 . PMID   16087420.