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Strophurus elderi

Strophurus elderi, also known commonly as the jewelled gecko, is a terrestrial, nocturnal species of gecko, a lizard in the family Diplodactylidae.[3] Previously classified within the genus Diplodactylus, S. elderi is one of 22 geckos belonging to the genus Strophurus.[4] The species is endemic to the arid regions of central and north-western Australia.[3]

Strophurus elderi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Diplodactylidae
Genus: Strophurus
Species:
S. elderi
Binomial name
Strophurus elderi
(Stirling & Zietz, 1893)
Synonyms[2]
  • Diplodactylus elderi
    Stirling & Zietz, 1893
  • Strophurus elderi
    — Wells & Wellington, 1984
  • Eremiastrophurus elderi
    — Wells & Wellington, 1985
  • Eremiastrophurus mahoodi
    Wells & Wellington, 1985
  • Strophurus elderi
    — Greer, 1989
  • Strophurus elderi
    — Cogger, 2014
Strophurus Elderi Distribution - Atlas of Living Australia records

Etymology

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The specific name, elderi, is in honor of Scottish-Australian philanthropist Thomas Elder.[5]

Description

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Soft-bodied, with pentadactyle limbs (meaning five digits on each extremity), S. elderi is a moderately sized lizard from the Geckkonidae family – measuring 65-75mm or 45mm from snout to vent.[6][3] The tail is fleshy and moderate, equating to 55% of the snout-vent length.[3] Dorsal colours are dark brown to velvety grey with scattered dark-edged white spots corresponding to enlarged tubercules (rosette of scales with an enlarged central scale).[3] The ventral colouring is dirty white with darker and paler flecks and spots.[3] Eyes are brown-grey with a vertical slit and are covered by a transparent convex disc which is cleaned and moistened regularly using their broad, fleshy mobile tongue.[6] The eye cover is shed periodically along with the outer skin layer.[6] Digits feature tiny retractile claws which sit within a groove between distal lamellae.[3] The subdigital pads are expanded and specially modified to grip the slender (<1 cm in diameter), spiny foliage of spinifex grass (triodia sp.).[3][7] S.elderi is distinguishable from other Strophurus species due to a lack precloacal pores, caudal ornamentation and bright oral mucosa.[4]

 
Jewelled Gecko

Defence Strategies

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S. elderi’s spotted colour pattern is thought to be a mechanism for camouflage within spinifex clumps.[4] Like other members of the geckkonidae family, S. elderi is autotomous, meaning that it can self-amputate its tail when grasped by a predatory agent.[3][6] However, they do this with a lower frequency when compared with other gecko species, which may be due to increased functionality.[4] As a member of the Strophurus genus, S. elderi possesses paired, mid-dorsal glands running the tail length, which forcibly eject a viscous, highly adhesive, slightly malodorous liquid up to 50 cm towards antagonists.[3][4][6]

Geographic range

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S. elderi is present in many Australian arid regions including states and territories of New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia.[2] S. elderi is found within spinifex-dominated landscapes, on red sandy plains, sandy dunes and occasionally on stony hills.[8] In addition, spinifex often occurs in association with Hummock grasslands, Mallee and Acacia woodlands and shrublands.[9]

Ecology and Habitat

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Strophurus Elderi in the Murray Mallee SA

S. elderi is a graminicolous (grass-dwelling) species and lives and forages almost exclusively within spinifex (Triodia sp.) hummocks.[10] Spinifex provides an ideal microclimatic niche by providing shelter and protection from predators.[7] Spinifex occurs as a low, dense hemispherical dome, less than 1.5 m (4.9 ft) tall, that expands outwards from the centre to form rings; as leaf growth continues, the centre dies off to form a dense matted mound of needle-sharp spines.[9] Spinifex remains significantly cooler than the surrounding bare ground,[7] and its robust and binding root structure provides an ideal burrowing substrate.[10] As a nocturnal species, S. elderi takes refuge within or underneath spinifex hummocks during the day and forages within and around spinifex at night. S. elderi perches at a lower height than many Strophurus species and will wait in ambush at 20–100 cm (7.9–39.4 in) above the ground.[7] S. elderi is insectivorous, eating a variety of small invertebrates such as small crickets, caterpillars, grubs, termites, spiders, cockroaches and moths.[8]

 
Jewelled gecko on Angas Downs

Reproduction

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S. elderi is oviparous[2] meaning that the species produces eggs that hatch outside the body. Females lay eggs in a clutch of two, and more than one clutch may be produced in a season.[6]

Threats

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S. elderi was listed as vulnerable under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act on 25 October 2004.[8] The species is classified as the least concern under the IUCN. S. elderi is currently threatened by habitat loss and destruction due to clearance, changes to grazing regimes, alterations in fire frequency and intensity, and predation by feral animals such as cats and foxes.[8] One known predator is Burton's Legless Lizard, or Lialis burtonis.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Shea, G.; Wilson, S.; Ellis, R.; Oliver, P. (2017). "Strophurus elderi ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T102701969A102701981. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T102701969A102701981.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Strophurus elderi ". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Cogger, Harold G. (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia (7th ed.). Australia: CSIRO Publishing. p. 335. ISBN 9780643100350.
  4. ^ a b c d e Nielsen, Stuart V.; Oliver, Paul M.; Laver, Rebecca J.; Bauer, Aaron M.; Noonan, Brice P. (20 February 2016). "Stripes, jewels and spines: further investigations into the evolution of defensive strategies in a chemically defended gecko radiation (Strophurus, Diplodactylidae)". Zoologica Scripta. 45 (5): 481–493. doi:10.1111/zsc.12181. hdl:10072/411159. S2CID 89325880.
  5. ^ 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. (Strophurus elderi, p. 82).
  6. ^ a b c d e f Swanson, Stephen (2007). Field Guide to Australian Reptiles (1 ed.). Australia: Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. pp. 38–69. ISBN 9781740217446.
  7. ^ a b c d Riedel, Jendrian; Nordberg, Eric; Schwarzkopf, Lin (2020). "Ecological niche and microhabitat use of Australian geckos". Israel Journal of Ecology and Evolution. 66 (3–4): 209–222. doi:10.1163/22244662-bja10002. S2CID 216293260 – via Brill.com.
  8. ^ a b c d e Adam, Paul (9 June 2021). "Jewelled gecko (Strophurus elderi) – vulnerable species listing". NSW Department of Planning and Environment. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  9. ^ a b Keith, David Andrew (2017). Australian vegetation (3rd ed.). United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. p. 673. ISBN 9781107118430.
  10. ^ a b Wilson, Steve (2012). Australian Lizards: A natural history. Australia: CSIRO Publishing. pp. 27–32. ISBN 9780643106420.

Further reading

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  • Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
  • Stirling EC, Zietz A (1893). "[Scientific results of the Elder Exploring Expedition,] Vertebrata". Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 16: 154–176. (Diplodactylus elderi, new species, p. 161 + Plate VI, figures 1 & 1a).
  • Wilson S, Swan G (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.



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