| Lucasium stenodactylum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Diplodactylidae |
| Genus: | Lucasium |
| Species: | L. stenodactylum |
| Binomial name | |
| Lucasium stenodactylum (Boulenger, 1896) | |
| Synonyms | |
Diplodactylus stenodactylusBoulenger, 1896 | |
Lucasium stenodactylum (previously known as Diplodactylus stenodactylus), also known as the crowned gecko or pale-snouted ground gecko, is a species of gecko from Australia.
The colour of Lucasium stenodactylum varies from reddish brown to brown. The length of most individuals is approximately 90 mm (3.5 in). Body patterns also vary, although the species is typically found with a cream or white vertebral stripe. The stripe starts at each eye and joins at the back of the neck into a single vertebral stripe. [1] In some individuals the vertebral stripe may be pale or absent. Large and small pale spots may be found on the limbs and sides of the body. Whitish under body. Tail is slender and comprises about 80 percent of snout-vent length. Homogeneous dorsal and flank scales. [2]
L. stenodactylum is distributed in four separate locations in New South Wales, Australia: Sturt National Park, Mutawintji National Park and Thurloo Downs. [1] The habitat of L. stenodactylum is not well known. In NSW, the species has been reported to be found in red and sandy soil habitats, as well as savannah woodlands and shrubby stony areas. [1]
The species is nocturnal and forages on insects. [1]
To date there are three well-defined lineages (families) of geckos, the gekkonine geckos, diplodactyline geckos and pygopod legless lizards. However, the taxonomy of geckos and their families have recently been frequently revised. [3] The species we know today as crowned gecko, Lucasium stenodactylum was described under the name of Diplodactylus stenodactylus as early as 1896 by Boulenger in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History. [4] Boulenger described the specimen as “a new species... is allied to and appears to connect Diplodactylus Steindachneri, Blgr., and Cremodactylus damoeus, Lucas and Frost...”. [4] Oliver et al. claimed that "Gekkos have a tendency to show high levels of cryptic diversity" and the diversity of the terrestrial genus Diplodactylus had been underestimated by a factor of two. [5] The genus Lucasium Wermuth was originally described by Kluge in 1965. [6] Until recently this genus, Lucasium Wermuth 1965, was mostly included in genus Diplodactylus Doughty and Hutchinson (2008). [5] In 2006, Pepper, Doughty and Keogh generated the first molecular phylogeny for the Diplodactylus stenodactylus species group, that included D. alboguttatus, D. damaeus, D. maini, and D. squarrosus, D. stenodactylus, as well as numerous other groups. Analysis of the moleculary phylogeny results revealed "a deep and ancient phylogenetic split" within D. stenodactylus distinguishing populations in Pilbara regions from non-Pilbara populations. [7] In 2007, Oliver, Hutchinson and Cooper, revived and revised the genus Lucasium to include D. byrnei, D. steindachneri and the stenodactylus groups. [8]
In New South Wales L. stenodactylum is classified as a vulnerable species according to the New South Wales Threatened Species Act 1995. [1] In Queensland, there is no listing of an EPBC status (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 EPBC Act); and the species has an NCA (Nature Conservation Act 1992) classification of ‘least concern’ (2). L. stenodacytlum also has a conservation status of ‘least concern’ within the Northern Territory. [9] Threats to L. stenodacyltum include grazing from introduced animals and predation by foxes and cats. Also, the risk of extinction due to genetic effects and chance events (e.g. drought and fire) increases if populations become fragmented. [1]
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.
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.
The beaded gecko is a gecko endemic to Australia.
Oedura is a genus of medium to large geckos, lizards in the family Diplodactylidae. The genus is endemic to Australia. Species in the genus are referred to by the common name velvet geckos.
The western beaked gecko is a species of gecko found throughout the interior of Australia.
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Diplodactylus vittatus, commonly known as the eastern stone gecko, stone gecko, and wood gecko, is a species of diplodactylid lizards that occurs in forest, shrubland and arid regions across Australia. It is widespread across the states of Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales, commonly found in dry peripheral bushlands. This gecko can be kept as a pet or seen within zoo enclosures.
The Carphodactylidae are a family of geckos, lizards in the infraorder Gekkota. The family consists of 32 described species. All species are endemic to Australia.
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. Diplodactylids are the most ecologically diverse and widespread family of geckos in both Australia and New Caledonia, and are the only family of geckos found in New Zealand. 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.
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.
Diplodactylus savagei, known commonly as the yellow-spotted Pilbara gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
Lucasium is a genus of lizards, sometimes called ground geckos, in the family Diplodactylidae. The genus is endemic to Australia, and it includes twelve species.
Main's ground gecko is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
The Pilbara ground gecko also known commonly as Wombey's gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
The short-tailed striped gecko, also known commonly as McMillan's spiny-tailed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
Strophurus robinsoni is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
The Mount Augustus spiny-tailed gecko, also known commonly as the Mount Augustus striped gecko and Wilson's spiny-tailed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
Pygopodoidea is a gecko superfamily and the only taxon in the gekkotan subclade Pygopodomorpha. The clade includes three Australasian families: Diplodactylidae, Carphodactylidae, and Pygopodidae. Traditional gekkotan systematics had considered Diplodactylidae and Carphodactylidae as subfamilies of the family Gekkonidae, but recent molecular work have placed Pygopodidae within Gekkonidae making it paraphyletic. These analyses have shown support of Pygopodidae and Carphodactylidae being sister taxa, with Diplodactylidae occupying a basal position in Pygopodoidea.