Beaded gecko

With only a few species of the genus Lucasium it is endemic to Australia.^[2] The 7 cm long beaded gecko is reddish brown on top, with what looks like chains of beads surrounding the cream pale ridged vertebral strip, thus given the name of beaded gecko.^[3][4] Single lines of pale blotches run down the side of its body with scattered smaller spots covering its dark brown limbs and surrounding body.^[5] This gecko has a rounded snout rather than beaked (with the rostral connection to the nostril^[6]), reddish brown in colour with a white or cream upper eyelid that is not able to cover, protect or clean the eye, rather the eye is covered in protective transparent scales.^[7] To keep the eye clean they use their long flat tongue to wipe the eye. With relatively large eyes, the pupil is a thin vertical slit during the day and rounded and full in the dark.^[8] The tail is a straight continuum of the body and the original tail has continuing patterns from the body down but will reproduce plain brown or spotted darker tails.^[9] The toes of a beaded gecko are flat and unkinked without adhesive pads and usually whitish in colour. The feet of the beaded gecko are not suitable for climbing^[10] The beaded gecko is nocturnal. Hiding through the day and coming out at night they travel large distances in search of food.^[11]

Beaded geckos are found in drier arid to semi-arid climate parts of mainland Australia in all states and the Northern Territory.^[12]

The beaded gecko is a terrestrial (ground-dwelling) animal that can be found in a variety of dry desert habitats within mainland Australia from the savannah woodlands to spinifex-covered sandhills.^[13] During the day the gecko uses insects and spider holes for shelter before coming out at night to hunt in open areas. This swift-moving gecko covers large areas in search for food.^[14]

The beaded gecko is oviparous, meaning it lays eggs rather than giving birth. Females are known to lay 2 eggs per clutch. Like most Australian reptiles, geckos have a breeding season which is from late September to December. Males have paired sex organs, each independent.^[15]

Beaded geckos like most other small lizards feed mainly on insects. The jaw is surrounded with short fine teeth; however, prey is crushed by the gecko rather than chewed.^[16]

Threats include loss of habitat, and feral predators like dogs, cats and foxes.^[17]