| Gehyra variegata | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Gekkonidae |
| Genus: | Gehyra |
| Species: | G. variegata |
| Binomial name | |
| Gehyra variegata | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Gehyra variegata, the tree dtella, variegated dtella or varied dtella, is a species of gecko in the genus Gehyra , native to inland Australia. [1]
The family Gekkonidae to which G. variegata belongs to are of Gondwanan origin. [2] When the land mass of Australia split from Gondwana, it contained early agamids and diplodactlyds, [2] the latter encompassing geckoes. During the evolutionary history of lizards the family Gekkonidae and Gekkoninae subfamily developed in the Scleroglossa group, which use their jaws rather than tongues when eating. [2] The Scleroglossan group includes the clade Gekkota consisting of three families, including Gekkonidae. [2]
The tree dtella's body (snout-vent) reaches a length of 55mm and a tail length of 70mm. The tree dtella has a highly variable dorsal colour which can likely be attributed to there being more than one species under the current name. [3] Colours range from population to population from grey to brown with chequered dark and pale blotches and marbling in the eastern populations [4] with western populations being marked with white to pale brown spots with dark bars. [5] These patterns form an irregular reticulate pattern over the entire dorsal surface. [3]
The scales on the body of the tree dtella are small and uniform, [3] with the inter-orbital scales on its head are much smaller than the loreal scales. [6] The rostral scale on its nose has steeply sloping upper edges. [5]
There are several dark lines on the sides of the head of the tree dtella, with a whitish underside of the body. It has a long tail which tapers to a point and is generally 55% of the snout-vent length. [4]
The fingers and toes of the tree dtella are clawed with large pads at the tips, enabling it to climb. [7] All inner digits are claw-free, a trait of the genus Gehyra. The fingers and toes have divided subdigital lamellae and the third and fourth toes do not feature webbing. [3]
The tree dtella lives in arid to sub-humid areas, including woodland, shrubland and rocky environments where dry conditions are common. [4] It is both arboreal and saxicolous, found under loose bark and hollows on trees, and in crevices and under exfoliating rock. [5] In trees, the tree dtella prefers sheltered sites greater than 1 metre from the ground [7] and can also be found under ground debris. [5]
Inland Australia, except in the north-west and south-east. [3] Field studies have shown that the tree dtella exhibits metapopulation structure within its geographical region. [1]
The tree dtella has the ability to survive in small patches of disturbed land, due to its ability to alter its habitat use in response to changes in the environment. Examples of this are seen in population in nature reserves populating shrubs, while populations in small fragmented remnant vegetation sheltering in logs and eucalyptus trees. [1]
The tree dtella is an ectotherm, falling into the subgroup of thigmotherms that depend on heat exchange with the substrate for maintenance of body temperature. [8] The arboreal dwelling tree dtella exhibits this trait by changing its location under the bark of trees as the sun warms different parts of the tree throughout the day. This behavioural thermoregulation is believed to be related to high thermal requirements for digestion. [8]
The diet of the tree dtella consists of beetles, termites, grasshoppers, cockroaches and spiders. [4] The tree dtella forages in the first 3 hours after dark and tends to stay within 10 metres of its home. [7]
The tree dtella has a lifespan of at least 5 years [4] reaching maturity at the age of 3. [7] It is oviparous [7] with one hard shelled egg being laid beneath cover, usually bark, logs and holes under rocks twice in a breeding season usually 1 month apart. [4] These eggs measure 10 by 11 mm [7] with the first egg laid during late November. [4] The gestation period for the eggs is approximately slightly longer than 2 months with hatching occurring after 61–79 days. [7] ). Hatchlings are 45mm in total length. [4] Nests are often communal, with 35 eggs in one nest having been found. [7]
Although a nocturnal animal, in the cooler months it basks in the sun and is also active under cover during the day. [4] Males are territorial [7] with several females and one male often sharing a site. [4] The tree dtella also lives in human dwellings and can be seen around street lights at night hunting insects. The tree dtella can also emit a shrill squeak. [4]
Gehyra is a genus of geckos in the family Gekkonidae. They are known as web-toed geckos or dtellas, and most species within the genus bear close resemblance to geckos from the genus Hemidactylus.
Ptenopus is a small genus of lizards, known commonly as barking geckos, in the family Gekkonidae. The genus is endemic to southern Africa. There are only three described species in this genus.
Gehyra mutilata, also known commonly as the common four-clawed gecko, Pacific gecko, stump-toed gecko, sugar gecko in Indonesia, tender-skinned house gecko, and butiki in Filipino, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to Southeast Asia. It has made its way to several areas of the world including Sri Lanka, Indochina, and many of the Pacific Islands. Compared to the common house gecko, the appearance of G. mutilata is somewhat plump, with delicate skin. The skin is usually colored a soft purplish/pinkish gray, with golden spots on younger specimens; these spots eventually fade with age.
Hemidactylus brookii, also known commonly as Brooke's house gecko and the spotted house gecko, is a widespread species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae..
Cyrtodactylus rubidus is a species of gecko found in the Andaman Islands (India) and the Coco Islands (Myanmar). The type locality is Port Blair, Andaman Islands.
The Qattara gecko is a species of lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae.
Heteronotia binoei, also known commonly as the prickly gecko or Bynoe's gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Australia. One of Australia's least habitat-specific geckos, it occurs naturally across much of the country, and has also established in areas where it does not occur naturally, such as urban Perth, Western Australia. It is dark brown to reddish brown, depending on the colour of the ground upon which it lives. There are irregular light bands with dark edges along its back.
The Okavango dwarf gecko or Chobe dwarf gecko is a species of gecko found along the Chobe and Zambesi Rivers and into the Okavango Delta, and into Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Christinus alexanderi, also known as Alexander's southern gecko or Alexander's marbled gecko, is a species of Gekkonidae geckos found in the Nullarbor Plain of Australia. It is one of the many species and subspecies regionally termed as marbled geckos.
Gehyra australis, the Australian house gecko, northern dtella or top-end dtella, is a species of gecko native to northern and eastern Australia. It is also widespread in Indonesia, alongside common house geckos and four-clawed geckos.
The dubious dtella, native Australian house gecko, ordubious four-clawed gecko is a species of gecko in the genus Gehyra, native to Northeastern Australia. The lizard is found in a variety of habitats, including acacia and eucalyptus woodlands, and in human-developed habitats, such as house walls in urban areas. Its urban presence makes it known as a common house gecko in Queensland. These geckos are often confused with the Asian common house gecko, which was introduced to Australia, but G. dubia has distinct rounded feet and less louder calls.
The stripe-tailed goanna, also known as the line-tailed pygmy monitor is a semi-arboreal species of monitor lizard native to Western Australia.
The pygmy mulga monitor, also known as Gillen's monitor or just mulga monitor is a species of lizard in the family Varanidae.
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.
Gehyra georgpotthasti is a species of web-toed gecko, found on several Melanesian and Polynesian islands.
Lucasium byrnei, also known commonly as the gibber gecko, Byrne's gecko, and the pink-blotched gecko, is a species of small, nocturnal lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
Gehyra lazelli more commonly known as the Southern Rock Dtella or Lazell's Dtella is a species of gecko in the genus Gehyra, native to Australia.
Gehyra pamela, also known commonly as the Arnhemland Watercourse dtella or the Arnhem Land spotted dtella, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to the Northern Territory in Australia.
Gehyra pulingka is a species of gecko endemic to Australia. It occurs in north-west South Australia, the mid Northern Territory, and Western Australia to the eastern Rawlinson Ranges.
Parsigecko is a monotypic genus of lizards in the family Gekkonidae. It contains one species, Parsigecko ziaiei, known as Ziaie's Pars-gecko. It is found in southern Iran.
