''Lucasium byrnei'', also known commonly as the gibber gecko, Byrne's gecko, and the pink-blotched gecko, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of small, nocturnal

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 ...

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 species 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 ...

Etymology

The

specific name Specific name may refer to: * in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules: * Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...

, ''byrnei'', is in honour of Australian telegraph official P.M. "Paddy" Byrne.

Appearance

Up to in total length (including tail), the gibber gecko is a pale, creamy-fawn to reddish-brown or dark brown colour above, with scattered darker flecks and spots and some tiny pale dots, and usually with a distinct series of four or five conspicuous, irregular, W-shaped dark brown transverse bars or blotches between nape and hindlimbs. It has a short, convex head with a rounded snout; the ear-opening is very small and rounded. Its

rostral scale The rostral scale, or rostral, in snakes and other scaled reptiles is the median plate on the tip of the snout that borders the mouth opening. Wright AH, Wright AA (1957). ''Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada''. Ithaca and London: ...

is very low and is about four times as broad as high, without a median cleft. Scales on the throat are minute and granular, whereas abdominal scales are flat, roundish, juxtaposed, and a little smaller than the dorsal tubercles. The gibber gecko's tail is cylindrical and tapering, with rings of scales that are convex above and flat and subquadrangular beneath. The male of the species has three or four blunt spines on each side of the base of the tail.

Habitat

The gibber gecko is terrestrial, hiding in ground litter, holes and ground crevices during the day, and emerging at night to forage in open areas. It is found in a wide range of

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

s from mallee and open woodland to saltbush and sandy desert. Due to the delicate surface architecture of its apical plates, it is considered unlikely that the gibber gecko would actively burrow, and instead it would be expected to be restricted to occupying previously excavated burrows or other retreats.

Geographic range

The gibber gecko is found in central

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

and its southern interior, the eastern half of

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

, and extending into adjacent border regions of

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

and the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...

Diet

The gibber gecko is insectivorous, with its natural diet comprising small spiders, ants, cockroaches, crickets, termites, and moths.

Taxonomy

The family Gekkonidae comprises 111 species in Australia which are normally no larger than in snout-to-vent length (SVL) with five digits that bear circular toe pads. The family is separated into two subfamilies:

Gekkoninae Gekkoninae is a diverse subfamily of the family Gekkonidae Gekkonidae (the common geckos) is the largest family of geckos, containing over 950 described species in 64 genera. Members of the Gekkonidae comprise many of the most widespread geck ...

and

Diplodactylinae 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 ...

. These subfamilies are further broken down into many genera, of which the following genera are found in Australia: '' Diplodactylus'', ''

Gehyra ''Gehyra'' is a genus of geckos in the family ''Gekkonidae''. They are known as web-toed geckos or dtellas, and most species within the genus bear close resemblance to geckos from the genus ''Hemidactylus''. Geographic range ''Gehyra'' specie ...

'', '' Hemidactylus'', '' Heteronotia'', '' Lepidodactylus'', ''

Nactus ''Nactus'' is a genus of geckos, lizards in the family Gekkonidae. The genus is endemic to Oceania."''Nactus'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. Species The following 35 species are recognized as being valid, and some species ...

'', ''

Nephrurus The genus ''Nephrurus'', collectively referred to as the knob-tailed geckos (or “knob-tails”), comprises several species of small, desert-dwelling, drought-tolerant Australian gecko. They are named for their stubby, knob-like tails, and are ...

'', ''

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 ''Oedura ...

'', '' Phyllurus'', ''

Pseudothecadactylus ''Pseudothecadactylus'' is a genus of geckos found in various states of Australia. Species Three species are recognized as being valid. *'' Pseudothecadactylus australis'' – Cape York pad-tail gecko *'' Pseudothecadactylus cavaticus'' *'' ...

'', ''

Rhynchoedura ''Rhynchoedura'' is a genus of lizards in the family Diplodactylidae. It includes six species, commonly known as beaked geckos, all of which are endemic to the arid zone of the Australian outback. Members of the genus are terrestrial and nocturna ...

'', ''

Saltuarius ''Saltuarius'' is a genus of larger Australian geckos, known collectively as leaf-tailed geckos. The genus was created in 1993 to accommodate some former members of the genus ''Phyllurus''. These geckos appear very similar to the ''Uroplatus'' g ...

'', '' Strophurus'', and ''

Underwoodisaurus ''Underwoodisaurus'' is a small genus of Australian lizards in the family Carphodactylidae. Member species are commonly known as thick-tailed geckos, along with the species '' Uvidicolus sphyrurus''. Etymology The generic name, ''Underwoodis ...

''. The gibber gecko was originally described by

Arthur Henry Shakespeare Lucas Arthur Henry Shakespeare Lucas (7 May 1853 – 10 June 1936) was an English-born schoolmaster, scientist and publisher who lived in Australia for over fifty years, and became the most renowned writer on Algae after William Henry Harvey Early lif ...

and Charles Frost in 1896 as ''Diplodactylus byrnei'' in the subfamily Diplodactylinae and further in the genus ''Diplodactylus'' which can be identified by the lack of caudal glands, the presence of small, retractable claws, and digits that lie flat on the ground.

Etymology

Appearance

Habitat

Geographic range

Diet

Taxonomy

References

Further reading