Goldfields spiny-tailed gecko
The Goldfields spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus assimilis) is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia.[2]
| Goldfields spiny-tailed gecko | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Diplodactylidae |
| Genus: | Strophurus |
| Species: | S. assimilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Strophurus assimilis (Storr, 1988) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Taxonomy
The Goldfields spiny-tailed gecko was originally reported as a hybrid between the northern spiny-tailed gecko and southern spiny-tailed gecko. It was recognized as a valid species and given the scientific name Diplodactylus assimilis in 1988 by Glen Milton Storr, the specific name assimilis meaning 'similar' in Latin (in reference to its similarity to the eastern spiny-tailed gecko).[3] It has since been moved to the genus Strophurus along with the other spiny-tailed geckos.
In 2023, it was found that some specimens assigned to Goldfields spiny-tailed gecko were actually part of a separate cryptic species based on molecular evidence. The cryptic species was split from Strophurus assimilis and named Strophurus spinula (the lesser thorn-tailed gecko).[4]
Description
This species reaches a snout-vent length of 53.7 to 80.8 mm, with a tail length being 49.3 to 66.3% the SVL. The body is mostly light or mid gray, sometimes with irregular dark markings. It has enlarged tan to orange tubercles arranged in a pair of parallel, mostly continuous, wavy lines down either side of the dorsal mid-line. The iris has a reticulated pattern surrounding by a dark brown ring.[4]
Distribution and habitat
S. assimilis is found in southern Western Australia, as well as South Australia in the Eyre Peninsula & Queen Victoria Desert.[4]
The natural habitat of S. assimilis is mallee spinifex and acacia shrubland in arid and semiarid areas, often with red-brown sand.[2][4]
References
- Wilson, S. (2017). "Strophurus assimilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T102701923A102701934. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T102701923A102701934.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- Species Strophurus assimilis at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- Storr, G. M. (1988). "The Diplodactylus ciliaris complex (Lacertilia: Gekkonidae) in Western Australia". Records of the Western Australian Museum. 14 (1): 121–133.
- Sadlier, Ross A.; Beatson, Cecilie A.; Brennan, Ian; Bauer, Aaron M. (2023). "A new species of spiny-tailed gecko (Squamata: Diplodactylidae: Strophurus) from the mulga woodlands of inland Western Australia". Records of the Western Australian Museum. 38 (1): 11. doi:10.18195/issn.0312-3162.38.2023.011-026. ISSN 0312-3162.
Further reading
- Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
- Greer AE (1989). The Biology and Evolution of Australian Lizards. Chipping Norton, New South Wales: Surrey Beatty & Sons. 264 pp. ISBN 978-0949324214.
- Laube A, Langner C (2007). "Die Gattung Strophurus [=The Genus Strophurus]". Draco 8 (29): 49–66. (in German).
- Rösler H (2000). "Kommentierte Liste der rezent, subrezent und fossil bekannten Geckotaxa (Reptilia: Gekkonomorpha) [= Annotated list of the recent, subrecent and fossil known Geckotaxa (Reptilia: Gekkonomorpha)]". Gekkota 22: 28–153. (Strophurus assimilis, p. 115). (in German).
- Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.