''Lucasium'' is a

genus 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 n ...

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 al ...

s, sometimes called ground geckos, in the

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

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 ge ...

. 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 els ...

to Australia, and it includes 14

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), 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 ...

Species

The following species are recognized as being valid: *'' Lucasium alboguttatum'' – white-spotted ground gecko *''

Lucasium bungabinna ''Lucasium bungabinna'' is a gecko endemic to Australia which is found in Western Australia and South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most ari ...

'' *''

Lucasium byrnei ''Lucasium byrnei'', also known commonly as the gibber gecko, Byrne's gecko, and the pink-blotched gecko, is a species of small, nocturnal lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia. Etymology The specific name, ...

'' – Byrne's gecko, gibber gecko *''

Lucasium damaeum The beaded gecko (''Lucasium damaeum'') is a gecko endemic to Australia. Description With only a few species of the genus ''Lucasium'' it is endemic to Australia. The 7 cm long beaded gecko is reddish brown on top, with what looks like c ...

'' – beaded gecko *''

Lucasium immaculatum The pale-striped ground gecko (''Lucasium immaculatum'') is a gecko endemic to Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), ...

'' – pale-striped ground gecko *''

Lucasium iris ''Lucasium iris'', the Gilbert ground gecko, is a gecko endemic to Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian c ...

'' – Gilbert ground gecko *'' Lucasium maini'' – Main's ground gecko *''

Lucasium microplax ''Lucasium microplax'' is a gecko endemic to Australia which is found in Western Australia, Northern Territory, and South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers ...

'' *''

Lucasium occultum The Alligator River gecko (''Lucasium occultum'') is a gecko native to Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australi ...

'' –

Alligator Rivers Alligator Rivers is the name of an area in an Arnhem Land region of the Northern Territory of Australia, containing three rivers, the East, West, and South Alligator Rivers. It is regarded as one of the richest biological regions in Australia, ...

gecko *''

Lucasium squarrosum The mottled ground gecko (''Lucasium squarrosum'') is a gecko endemic to Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Austral ...

'' – mottled ground gecko *''

Lucasium steindachneri ''Lucasium steindachneri'', commonly called the box-patterned gecko or Steindachner's gecko, is a species of nocturnal, medium-sized lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species has a pale strip with three patches of brown along its back. T ...

'' – box-patterned gecko, Steindachner's gecko *''

Lucasium stenodactylum ''Lucasium stenodactylum'' (previously known as ''Diplodactylus stenodactylus''), also known as the crowned gecko or pale-snouted ground gecko, is a species of gecko from Australia. Description The colour of ''Lucasium stenodactylum'' varies ...

'' – crowned gecko, pale-snouted ground gecko, *''

Lucasium wombeyi The Pilbara ground gecko (''Lucasium wombeyi'') also known commonly as Wombey's gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Australia. Etymology The specific name, ''wombeyi'', is in honour of Austral ...

'' –

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 gl ...

ground gecko *''

Lucasium woodwardi ''Lucasium woodwardi'', the Pilbara ground gecko, is a gecko endemic to Australia which is found in Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Au ...

'' -

ground 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 atte ...

'': 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 ''Lucasium''.

Captivity

Both the

beaded gecko The beaded gecko (''Lucasium damaeum'') is a gecko endemic to Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian conti ...

and the box-patterned gecko can be kept as pets although a permit is required to keep them.

Species

Captivity

References

Further reading