Content area
Full text
With its slender limbs splayed astride the ochre stencil of an adult aboriginal hand, this Australian Leaf-Tailed Gecko (Saltuarius salebrosus) shows its true dimensions. At 14 cm SVL it is one of the largest of Australia's 112 described species of geckos.
The 13 named species of leaf-tailed geckos occur along eastern Australia between Sydney and Cape York Peninsula. They are currently placed in three allied genera (Couper et al. 2000. Mem. Queensland Mus. 45[2]:253-265; Hoskin et al. 2003. Austral. J. Zool. 51:153-164). Eight Phyllurus have cylindrical to flattened heart-shaped tails and a disruptive pattern of dark flecks; a single Orraya has a long neck, dark flecks and a fringe of spines around its flat original tail; and four Saltuariux have bold, lichen-like marbling and elaborately flanged tails.
Thirty years ago this complex of spectacular geckos were classified as only two species, both placed in Phyllurus. Some were simply assumed...