Strophurus spinula
Species of lizard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Gekkota |
| Family: | Diplodactylidae |
| Genus: | Strophurus |
| Species: | S. spinula |
| Binomial name | |
| Strophurus spinula | |
Taxonomy
The 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
The 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
S. 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]