Knob-tailed gecko
Template:Short description Template:Automatic taxobox
The genus Nephrurus, collectively referred to as the knob-tailed geckos (or “knob-tails”), comprises several species of small, desert-dwelling, drought-tolerant Australian gecko. They are named for their stubby, knob-like tails, and are also easily identified by their rather large eyes. This adaptation of enlarged eyes is indicative of an animal’s lifestyle being predominantly crepuscular or nocturnal.
Description
Lizards of this genus are easily distinguished by their short bodies, large heads, small legs, and short, carrot-shaped tails that often end in a small knob.
Species
The following 11 species are recognized as being valid.<ref>Template:EMBL genus www.reptile-database.org.</ref>
- Nephrurus amyae Template:Small – Centralian rough knob-tailed gecko
- Nephrurus asper Template:Small – rough knob-tailed gecko
- Nephrurus cinctus Template:Small – northern banded knob-tailed gecko
- Nephrurus deleani Template:Small – Pernatty knob-tailed gecko
- Nephrurus eromanga Template:Small
- Nephrurus laevissimus Template:Small – smooth knob-tailed gecko
- Nephrurus levis Template:Small – smooth knob-tailed gecko
- Nephrurus sheai Template:Small – Kimberley rough knob-tailed gecko
- Nephrurus stellatus Template:Small – stellate knob-tailed gecko
- Nephrurus vertebralis Template:Small – midline knob-tailed gecko
- Nephrurus wheeleri Template:Small – banded knob-tailed gecko<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> The former Nephrurus milii Template:Small, is now Underwoodisaurus milii Template:Small – barking gecko.
As pets
Some species are sold and captive bred as pets such as Nephrurus amyae, Nephrurus asper, Nephrurus cinctus, Nephrurus deleani, Nephrurus laevissimus, Nephrurus levis, Nephrurus vertebralis and Nephrurus wheeleri.
References
Further reading
- Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume I. Geckonidæ .... London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 436 pp. + Plates I–XXXII. (Genus Nephrurus, p. 9).
- Günther A (1876). "Descriptions of new species of Reptiles from Australia". Journal des Museum Godeffroy 5 (12): 45–47. (Nephrurus, new genus, p. 46).