''Phyllurus amnicola'', also known as the Mount Elliot leaf-tailed gecko or the Riverine leaf-tailed gecko, is a species of

gecko Geckos are small, mostly carnivorous lizards that have a wide distribution, found on every continent except Antarctica. Belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, geckos are found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from . Geckos ar ...

found in

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 is endemic to Mount Elliot in

Bowling Green Bay National Park Bowling Green Bay is a national park in the City of Townsville and Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia, 1,103 km northwest of Brisbane, and 28 km south of Townsville and 59 km north of Ayr. It is a Ramsar Convention listed sit ...

in northeastern

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_ ...

Etymology

"Amnicola" translates from Latin to English as: "dwelling by a river". This is a reference to the type locality specimen for ''P. amnicola.''

Description

''P. amnicola'' are beige or white in color with dark splotches and/or stripes running crosswise on their body. The limbs of ''P. amnicola'' are usually banded with the base color getting lighter as it proceeds ventrally, with the bands becoming more frequent. The "leaf-tailed" name comes from the tail, which resembles a leaf and has a long knob-like tip, and from the compressed

morphology Morphology, from the Greek and meaning "study of shape", may refer to: Disciplines *Morphology (archaeology), study of the shapes or forms of artifacts *Morphology (astronomy), study of the shape of astronomical objects such as nebulae, galaxies, ...

of the body. This compressed morphology allows the gecko to lie flat against boulders and rocks. The limbs are long and have large

distally Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position pro ...

compressed digits. It has been observed that regrown tails are not as bright as the original. ''P. amnicola'' is distinguished from congeners by its larger size, flared instead of cylindrical tail shape, and by the anterior-most dark band being broken but spanning the full width of the tail.

Distribution and Habitat

''Phyllurus amnicola'' have a very limited natural range and are considered

microendemic 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 else ...

. They are only found along the streams and creeks of Mt. Elliot in

between 400-1000m elevation. The type locality for this gecko is Alligator Creek. Almost all specimens have been seen on rocks or boulders just above the water line with their head towards the water. The one recorded exception to this was a specimen on a tree trunk in between two boulders, just above the water line. Foraging occurs near turbulent or flowing water, so this is hypothesized to be why the geckos are always found in this location and in the head down position.

Reproduction

There is little available information on this species' reproduction beyond it likely reproduces in a similar manner to its '' Phyllurus'' congeners. In 2000, Couper, et al. recorded that in 14 collected mature female specimens, 8 carried between one and three shelled eggs. There are some private and commercial breeders attempting to breed this species for the exotic pet trade. This is notable because nearly all native Australian reptiles are illegal to export for the pet trade.

References

Phyllurus Endemic fauna of Australia Geckos of Australia Reptiles described in 2000 Taxa named by Patrick J. Couper Taxa named by Christopher J. Schneider (herpetologist) Taxa named by Conrad J. Hoskin Taxa named by Jeanette Covacevich {{gecko-stub