''Diplodactylus calcicolus'', sometimes called the south coast gecko, is a

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. They range from . Geckos are unique among lizards ...

endemic to

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

Description

''D. calcicolus'' is a gecko with a medium size that usually has a very broken and spotted pattern along the length of the body that has considerable variation among the population. It is a longer tailed member of the ''

Diplodactylus vittatus ''Diplodactylus vittatus'', commonly known as the eastern stone gecko, stone gecko, and wood gecko, is a species of diplodactylid lizards that occurs in forest, shrubland and arid regions across Australia. It is widespread across the states of Q ...

'' complex. There are markings with spots of various sizes along the flanks with a dorsum that is variegated by a mix of lighter and darker scales. It is a terrestrial, nocturnal species that is often found on open ground at night when it is active. During the day when it is less active it is prefers to shelter under rocks and fallen logs and among leaf litter and also in calcareous coastal sands.

Distribution

The gecko has a stable population inhabiting a variety of arid and semi-arid desert and shrubland communities in the southern Wheatbelt and along the south coast of the

Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...

and Goldfields-Esperance regions of

and along the south coast of

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...

west from the

Eyre Peninsula The Eyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula in South Australia. It is bounded by the Spencer Gulf on the east, the Great Australian Bight on the west, and the Gawler Ranges to the north. Earlier called Eyre's Peninsula, it was named after e ...

with isolated populations east of

Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

and the southern part of the

Yorke Peninsula The Yorke Peninsula, known as Guuranda by the original inhabitants, the Narungga people, is a peninsula located northwest and west of Adelaide in South Australia, between Spencer Gulf on the west and Gulf St Vincent on the east. The peninsula ...

References

Diplodactylus Geckos of Australia Reptiles described in 2009 Taxa named by Mark Norman Hutchinson Taxa named by Paul Doughty Taxa named by Paul M. Oliver {{Diplodactylidae-stub