Gehyra lazelli

Gehyra lazelli more commonly known as the Southern Rock Dtella or Lazell's Dtella is a species of gecko in the genus Gehyra, native to Australia.[1]

Gehyra lazelli
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Gehyra
Species:
G. lazelli
Binomial name
Gehyra lazelli
(Wells & Wellington, 1985)
Synonyms
  • Dactyloperus lazelli
  • Dactyloperus annetteae

Description

The species varies in color from a dull brown to a grey brown, speckled with white spots in a variegated appearance, somewhat resembling patches of lichen on exposed rock. It's variegated appearance also acts as a form of camouflage from predators such as birds, blending in with surfaces of exposed rock and leaf litter.[2] The body is rather flat, accompanied by a slender tail and homogeneous scales across the species body. A key identifier of G. lazelli is that the species third and fourth toes are free from webbing while the rest of the fingers and toes are webbed together with pads on their surface for grip.[3]

Distribution

Endemic to Australia, the distribution of G. lazelli extends from central and Western New South Wales, to The Nullabor plain in South Australia. Sightings close to the North West Victorian border lead to speculation the species distribution extends into the fringes of semi arid Victoria.[3]

Habitat and diet

The species is commonly found sunning itself on exposed rock or hiding in between crevices in rocky outcrops and stony hills. It can also be found underneath thick bark or fallen logs and forages for food at night in these rocky areas.[3] The species relies on these outcrops as a source of energy, food and protection from predators such as birds. A majority of lizards feed on animal protein and are generalist in nature, meaning they are not fussy eaters.[2] G. lazelli is no exception, feeding on small arthropods up to as big as it can fit inside its mouth.[2]

Ecology

The genus Gehyra which G. lazelli belongs to consists of 44 different Australian species occurring across much of arid, semi arid and tropical Northern Australia. The most common and widespread of the genera is Gehyra variegata (Tree Dtella) which occurs across most of Australia. Unfortunately due to habitat decline from extensive land clearing of Australia's interior woodlands, the species habitat is becoming more fragmented.[4] Being a reptile the species reproduces oviparously, meaning that it lays eggs that hatch live young. The species like most geckos have a clutch size of two and have been observed laying eggs in communal nests with the same or similar species of gecko. In cooler areas, some species of lizard use viviparity to bear young as the cooler temperatures limit the success of oviparity.[5]

Conservation status

Currently the species is listed under least concern on the IUCN global list of threatened species and is protected in Australia under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999).

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References
  1. Gehyra lazelli at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
  2. Wilson, Steve (2012). Australian lizards: A natural History. Collingwood: CSIRO Publishing. pp. 108–110. ISBN 9780643106406.
  3. Cogger, Harold (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Collingwood: CSIRO Publishing. p. 567. ISBN 9780643100350.
  4. Hoehn, M., Sarre, S. D., & Henle, K. (2007). "The tales of two geckos: does dispersal prevent extinction in recently fragmented populations?". Molecular Ecology. 16 (16): 3299–3312. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03352.x.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. Wilson, Steve (2013). Australian Lizards: A Natural History. Collingwood: CSIRO Publishing. pp. 156–157. ISBN 9780643106406.
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