Lucasium steindachneri
| Lucasium steindachneri | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Diplodactylidae |
| Genus: | Lucasium |
| Species: | L. steindachneri
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lucasium steindachneri (Boulenger, 1885)
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Lucasium steindachneri, commonly called the box-patterned gecko or Steindachner's gecko, is a species of nocturnal, medium-sized lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species has a pale strip with three patches of brown along its back.[3] This gecko is terrestrial and only found in arid and semi-arid areas of continental Australia.[4]
Etymology
[edit]The specific name, steindachneri, is in honor of Austrian herpetologist Franz Steindachner.[5]
Description
[edit]The box-patterned gecko is a smooth-scaled reptile which grows to a maximum snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 59 mm (2.3 in), but on average grows to 45 mm (1.8 in) SVL.[6] It has large circular eyes with vertical pupils, and lacks moveable eyelids.[3] Each eye is covered by a clear scale. To clean its eyes it wipes its tongue over these clear scales.[3] The box-patterned gecko can be distinguished by a pale dorsal strip running from its eyes down to the base of the tail, containing three oval patches of dark brown colour.[6] It has pale spots and flecks along its sides and a long slender tail, which makes up 70% of its total length.[4] The underneath side of the body and the underneath sides of the limbs are whitish. The feet have five digits with circular discs and large singular terminal plates.[3]
Feeding
[edit]The box-patterned gecko feeds on a varying array of arthropods such as insects, spiders and scorpions during the night.[3]
Behaviour
[edit]When D. steindachneri is threatened or captured, it will make a barking or hissing sound, open its mouth, and jump towards the predator.[3] If this does not scare the intruder off, it will drop its tail, distracting the predator, and allowing the gecko to escape.[3]
Reproduction
[edit]A sexually mature female of D. steindachneri will lay one to two eggs during one year.[4]
Geographic range and habitat
[edit]The box-patterned gecko is distributed across arid and semi-arid areas of Australia within Queensland, New South Wales, and a small patch of eastern South Australia and the Northern Territory.[3] This is commonly dry open woodlands, forests, and mallee country with heavy or stony soils.[6] During the day it shelters in crevices in the ground, and it is most often found in disused insect holes.[6] At night it emerges from its hole to forage for food.
Taxonomy
[edit]The family Diplodactylidae comprises many species in Australia which are normally no larger than 150 mm (5.9 in) long with five digits that bear circular toe pads.[6][4]
References
[edit]- ^ Dickman C, Wilson S, Vanderduys E (2018). "Lucasium steindachneri ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T102676284A102676373. https://dx.doi.org/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T102676284A102676373.en. Downloaded on 09 June 2020.
- ^ Species Lucasium steindachneri at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Wilson, Steve (2003). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia. Australia: Reed New Holland. pp. 48–61. ISBN 978-1-876334-72-7.
- ^ a b c d Cogger, Harold (1983). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. AH & AW Reed PTY LTD. pp. 152–170. ISBN 978-0-589-50108-2.
- ^ 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. (Diplodactylus steindachneri, p. 252).
- ^ a b c d e Swan, Gerry (2004). A Field Guide to Reptiles of New South Wales. Australia: Reed New Holland. pp. 10–16. ISBN 978-1-877069-06-2.
Further reading
[edit]- Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume I. Geckonidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 436 pp. + Plates I-XXXII. (Diplodactylus steindachneri, new species, p. 102 + Plate VIII, figures 5, 5a).
- Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
- Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.