''Amalosia'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

lizard Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Diplodactylidae The Diplodactylidae are a family in the suborder Gekkota (geckos), with over 150 species in 25 genera. These geckos occur in Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. Diplodactylids are the most ecologically diverse and widespread family of geck ...

. The genus is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. It includes four species:

Taxonomy

All species of the genus ''Amalosia'' were previously included within the genus ''

Oedura ''Oedura'' is a genus of medium to large geckos, lizards in the family Diplodactylidae. The genus is endemic to Australia. Species in the genus are referred to by the common name velvet geckos. Geographic range Most of the species of ''Oedur ...

'' until 2012, when Oliver et al. transferred four species to this genus and erected two new monotypic

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

, '' Hesperoedura'' for ''Oedura reticulata'' and '' Nebulifera'' for ''Oedura robusta''. Oliver PM, Bauer AM, Greenbaum E, Jackman TR, Hobbie T (2012). "Molecular phylogenetics of the arboreal Australian gecko genus ''Oedura'' Gray 1842 (Gekkota: Diplodactylidae): Another plesiomorphic grade?" ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' 63: 255-264. Some taxonomic authorities still place all four species in the former genus. All species are native to

Species

The following four species are recognized as being valid. *''

Amalosia jacovae ''Amalosia jacovae'', also known commonly as the clouded gecko or the clouded velvet gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia. Etymology The specific name, ''jacovae'' (Latin, feminine ...

'' *''

Amalosia lesueurii ''Amalosia lesueurii'', commonly known as Lesueur's gecko or Lesueur's velvet gecko, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia. Etymology The specific name, ''lesueurii'', is in honor of ...

'' *''

Amalosia obscura ''Amalosia obscura'', also known commonly as the slim velvet gecko is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia. Geographic range ''A. obscura'' is native to the Australian state of Western Australia ...

'' *''

Amalosia rhombifer ''Amalosia rhombifer'', also known commonly as the zigzag velvet gecko and the zig-zag gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia. Description The zigzag velvet gecko can reach a total l ...

'' ''

Nota bene (, or ; plural form ) is a Latin phrase meaning "note well". It is often abbreviated as NB, n.b., or with the ligature and first appeared in English writing . In Modern English, it is used, particularly in legal papers, to draw the atten ...

'': A

binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Amalosia''.

References

Geckos of Australia Lizard genera Taxa named by Richard Walter Wells Taxa named by Cliff Ross Wellington {{Diplodactylidae-stub