Strophurus spinula, commonly known as the lesser thorn-tailed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. It is endemic to Australia.
| Strophurus spinula | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Diplodactylidae |
| Genus: | Strophurus |
| Species: | S. spinula
|
| Binomial name | |
| Strophurus spinula Sadlier, Beatson, Brennan & Bauer, 2023
| |
Taxonomy
editThe specific name spinula is Latin for 'little thorn', referring to the fact that its tail spines are comparatively small (a feature distinguishing it from the Goldfields spiny-tailed gecko).[1]
The lesser thorn-tailed gecko was originally assigned as a population of Strophurus assimilis (the Goldfields spiny-tailed gecko). However, a 2023 study using molecular evidence has found it to be a distinct parapatric species, thus it was described as a new species Strophurus spinula.[1][2]
Description
editThe lesser thorn-tailed gecko reaches a snout-vent length of 40.8 to 61.2 mm, with the tail being 47.8 to 64.8% of the SVL. Their body color is mostly grey, with darker markings on the dorsal surface and a wavy pattern on the dorsolateral edge. Enlarged tubercles are arranged in a pair of parallel lines running down dorsal surface on either side of the dorsal mid-line, often broken at regular intervals of length. In live specimens, the iris shows reticulated patterns and is surrounded by an orange-brown ring of color.[1][3]
Distribution and habitat
editS. spinula is found in the southern areas of Western Australia. It mostly occurs in Mulga woodland, also appearing in mallee and shrublands with acacia & eucalyptus. One specimen was collected recorded from a saline alluvial plain with scattered haplophytic shrubland in Rosemont.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ Baker, Harry (2023-05-31). "This psychedelic-eyed gecko isn't what we thought it was". livescience.com. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ^ Anderson, Natali (2023-05-29). "New Species of Gecko with 'Psychedelic Eyes' Identified in Australia | Sci.News". Sci.News: Breaking Science News. Retrieved 2023-06-18.