''Oedura'' 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 ...

of medium to large geckos, lizards 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 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 ...

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 ...

in the genus are referred to by the

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...

velvet geckos.

Geographic range

Most of the

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 ''Oedura'' occur in northern and eastern Australia, with further isolates in the arid zone (

Pilbara The Pilbara () is a large, dry, thinly populated region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Aboriginal peoples; its ancient landscapes; the red earth; and its vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore. It is also a glo ...

Central Ranges Central Ranges (code CER) is an Australian bioregion, with an area of 101,640.44 square kilometres (39,244 sq mi) spreading across two states and one territory: South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory.Flinders Ranges).

Behaviour and habitat

Geckos of the genus ''Oedura'' are mostly arboreal and

nocturnal Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnal meaning the opposite. Nocturnal creatures generally have highly developed sens ...

, and have flattened bodies that are distinctly patterned. They are secretive tree or rock dwellers, usually concealing themselves beneath peeling bark or in cracks and crevices. A species found in the

Kimberley Kimberly or Kimberley may refer to: Places and historical events Australia * Kimberley (Western Australia) ** Roman Catholic Diocese of Kimberley * Kimberley Warm Springs, Tasmania * Kimberley, Tasmania a small town * County of Kimberley, a ...

region, ''Oedura filicipoda'', is named for the plumose fringing on the toes that may assist in clinging to rocky overhangs. All species are adapted to their dry conditions and can go for months without food or water.

Taxonomy

The content of the genus ''Oedura'' has been reduced by Oliver et al. in 2012, when they transferred four species to the genus ''

Amalosia ''Amalosia'' is a genus of lizards in the family Diplodactylidae. The genus is endemic to Australia. It includes four species: Taxonomy All species of the genus ''Amalosia'' were previously included within the genus ''Oedura'' until 2012, when ...

'' 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''.

Species

The type species for the genus is ''Oedura marmorata'', first described by

John Edward Gray John Edward Gray, FRS (12 February 1800 – 7 March 1875) was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of zoologist George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray (1766–1828). The same is used for ...

in 1842. Gray JE (1842). "Description of some hitherto unrecorded species of Australian Reptiles and Batrachians". ''Zoological Miscellany'' (London: Treuttel, Würtz & Co.) 2: 51–57. (''Œdura'' new genus, p. 52; ''Œdura marmorata'', new species, p. 52). The following is a list of the 19 valid species: *''

Oedura argentea ''Oedura argentea'' is a species of velvet gecko (Diplodactylidae: ''Oedura'') that has been recently described from the sandstone ranges of central-north Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg ...

'' *''

Oedura bella ''Oedura bella'', sometimes called the gulf marbled velvet gecko, is a species of geckos endemic to Queensland and Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an ...

'' *''

Oedura castelnaui The northern velvet gecko (''Oedura castelnaui'') is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Queensland in Australia. Etymology The specific name, ''castelnaui'', is in honor of French naturalist Francis de ...

'' – northern velvet gecko *'' Oedura cincta'' *''

Oedura coggeri ''Oedura coggeri'', commonly known as the northern spotted velvet gecko, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Queensland, Australia. Etymology The specific name, ''coggeri'', is in honor of Au ...

'' – northern spotted velvet gecko *'' Oedura elegans'' – elegant velvet gecko *'' Oedura filicipoda'' – fringe-toed velvet gecko *'' Oedura fimbria'' *''

Oedura gemmata ''Oedura gemmata'', also called the jewelled velvet gecko or dotted velvet gecko, is a gecko endemic to Northern Territory in Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country compris ...

'' – jewelled velvet gecko *'' Oedura gracilis'' – gracile velvet gecko *'' Oedura jowalbinna'' *'' Oedura lineata'' – Arcadia velvet gecko *'' Oedura luritja'' *'' Oedura marmorata'' – marbled velvet gecko *'' Oedura monilis'' – ocellated velvet gecko *'' Oedura murrumanu'' – limestone range velvet gecko *'' Oedura nesos'' *'' Oedura picta'' – ornate velvet gecko *'' Oedura tryoni'' – southern spotted velvet gecko ''

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 ''Oedura''.

Species formerly in ''Oedura''

Transferred to genus ''Amalosia'' : *''Oedura jacovae'' – valid as ''

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 ...

'' *''Oedura lesueurii'' – Lesueur's velvet gecko, valid as ''

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 ...

'' *''Oedura obscura'' – slim velvet gecko, valid as ''

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 ...

'' *''Oedura rhombifer'' – zigzag velvet gecko, valid as ''

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 ...

'' Transferred to genus ''Hesperoedura'' : *''Oedura reticulata'' – reticulated velvet gecko, valid as '' Hesperoedura reticulata'' Transferred to genus ''Nebulifera'' : *''Oedura robusta'' – robust velvet gecko, valid as '' Nebulifera robusta''

Geographic range

Behaviour and habitat

Taxonomy

Species

Species formerly in ''Oedura''

References

Further reading