Cape Melville leaf-tailed gecko
| Cape Melville leaf-tailed gecko | |
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| Species: | S. eximius
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| Binomial name | |
| Saltuarius eximius | |
The Cape Melville leaf-tailed gecko, Saltuarius eximius, is a species of gecko that is endemic to the Melville Range on Cape Melville in Northern Australia.[1][2] The species was described in 2013 by Australian zoologists Conrad Hoskin (of James Cook University) and Patrick Couper (curator of herpetology at Queensland Museum).[3] The lizards are about 20 cm long and are believed to be a relic species from the time period rainforests were more abundant in Australia. The name derives from the Latin word for "extraordinary" or "exquisite", and refers to the lizard's distinctive, camoflauged appearance. It hides among rocky boulders in the day and emerges at night to hunt on rocks and trees. The lizard has large eyes, a long and slender body, and specialized limbs adaptated to life in dimly lit boulder fields.[2]
See also
References
- ^ "Lost world' discovered in remote Australia". AFP. October 27, 2013.
- ^ a b Aldred, Jessica (October 28, 2013). "Gecko that looks like a leaf among new species found in Australia's 'lost world'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-10-29.
- ^ Hoskin, Conrad J. (1 October 2013). "A spectacular new leaf-tailed gecko (Carphodactylidae: Saltuarius) from the Melville Range, north-east Australia". Zootaxa. 3717 (4): 543. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3717.4.6.
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External links
Data related to Saltuarius eximius at Wikispecies
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