The broad-tailed gecko, southern leaf-tailed gecko, or Sydney leaf-tailed gecko (''Phyllurus platurus'') is a common

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 ...

of the family Carphodactylidae found in the

Sydney Basin The Sydney Basin is an interim Australian bioregion and is both a structural entity and a depositional area, now preserved on the east coast of New South Wales, Australia and with some of its eastern side now subsided beneath the Tasman Sea. ...

. The species uses its mottled colour to camouflage against bark or rock, and if threatened can drop its large fleshy tail as a decoy. The tail is also useful for fat storage. This species of gecko is available in captivity as a pet, they are a

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 ...

ambush hunter, relying on camouflage and patience to catch prey. Primary prey items include large nocturnal invertebrates such as spiders, cockroaches and beetles.

Description

Snout to vent length of 9.5 cm. Total length up to 15 cm. Mottled brown in colour with low bumpy tubercules over the body, original tails are mottled the same colour as the body with large slightly spiny tubercules, whereas regenerated tails are chunkier mottled and smooth.

Habitat

Common generally in the greater Sydney Basin area, north to Newcastle and south to the Illawarra. It mainly inhabits rocky areas including boulders, rock faces or small rock crevices, but can also naturally be found on trees including in areas with no immediate rocky habitat. The species can occupy a wide range of niches from temperate rainforest gullies to drier sclerophyll ridge lines. It has also adapted well to human structures and can be found in garages, fences, retaining walls and homes.

Diet

Arthropods such as spiders, moths, beetles and cockroaches. Broad-tailed Gecko 2

Reproduction

One or two eggs per clutch, laid in a crevice. Juveniles hatch after eight to ten weeks.

Captivity

Considered an "easy to keep" species, a license is required to keep the Southern leaf-tailed gecko as a pet in Australia, though licenses may differ from state to state.

References

* Wilson, Steve and Swan, Gerry (2003) ''A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia'' Reed New Holland, Frenchs Forest, New South Wales, page 88, * Laube, A. and Langner, C. (2007) "Die "Geckos" Australiens" ''Draco'' 8(29): pp. 4–21; in German Geckos of Australia Phyllurus Reptiles described in 1790 Taxa named by George Shaw {{gecko-stub