Saltuarius moritzi

Saltuarius moritzi
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Gekkota
Family:	Carphodactylidae
Genus:	Saltuarius
Species:	S. moritzi
Binomial name
Saltuarius moritzi Couper, Sadlier, Shea & Wilmer, 2008

Saltuarius moritzi, also known commonly as the New England leaf-tailed gecko or Moritz's leaf-tailed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Carphodactylidae. The species is native to Australia. ^[2]

Etymology

The specific name, moritzi, is in honor of Australian herpetologist Craig Moritz. ^[3]

Description

Adults of Saltuarius moritzi usually have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of about 11 cm (4.3 in). The rostral contacts the nostrils. There are large spinose tubercles on the upper surface of the digits. The coloration is extremely variable. ^{[4] : 76–77}

Geographic range

Saltuarius moritzi is endemic to the New England Tablelands in New South Wales. ^[5]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of S. moritzi are closed forests, wet sclerophyll forests, and rocky escarpments, gorges, and outcrops. ^[2]

Description

Saltuarius moritzi may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 10.9 cm (4.3 in). ^[2]

Reproduction

Saltuarius moritzi is oviparous. ^[2]

References

1. Couper, P.; Hoskin, C.; Greenlees, M.; Amey, A. (2018). "Saltuarius moritzi ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T56798439A56798449.en. Accessed on 24 November 2021.
2. Species Saltuarius moritzi at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Saltuarius moritzi, p. 183).
4. Wilson, S.; Swan, G. (2023). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Sixth Edition. Sydney: Reed New Holland. ISBN   978-1-92554-671-2. 688 pp.
5. "Saltuarius moritzi ". The Queensland Museum. Retrieved 2017-11-11.

Further reading

• Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN   978-0643100350.
• Couper, Patrick J.; Sadlier, Ross A.; Shea, Glenn M.; Wilmer, Jessica Worthington(2009). "A Reassessment of Saltuarius swaini (Lacertilia: Diplodactylidae) in Southeastern Queensland and New South Wales; Two New Taxa, Phylogeny, Biogeography and Conservation". Records of the Australian Museum60 (1): 87–118. (Saltuarius moritzi, new species, pp. 99–105, Figures 12A, 12B, 12C).
• Daly, Garry; Hoye, Glenn (2016). "Survey of the reptiles of the mountain forests near Dorrigo on the north coast of New South Wales". Australian Zoologist. 38 (1): 26–42.
• Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN   978-1921517280.