Australian house gecko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Australian house gecko |
|
|---|---|
_probably_hitched_a_ride_down_south_on_a_truck._(8851269349).jpg) |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Gehyra
|
| Species: |
australis
|
 |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Gehyra australis, also called the Australian house gecko or northern dtella, is a type of gecko. It lives in northern and eastern Australia. You can also find it in Indonesia, often alongside other common geckos.
These geckos mostly live in trees. They like woodlands, coastal forests, and forests near rivers. Sometimes, they even live close to people's houses and gardens! Female geckos lay eggs to have their babies.
Contents
Discovering New Gecko Species
Scientists are always learning new things about animals. In 2020, after studying the genes of the Australian house gecko, they found something interesting. What they thought was one species, Gehyra australis, was actually a group of very similar geckos. This group is called a "species complex."
Because of these new discoveries, scientists suggested three new species:
- G. arnhemica (found in east Arnhem Land)
- G. gemina (found in northern deserts)
- G. lauta (found near the border of the Northern Territory and Queensland)
This means the original G. australis (sometimes called G. australis sensu stricto) now refers to geckos found only in a smaller area. This area is in the western part of the Northern Territory. It includes places like Darwin and Gregory National Park.
How Are They Different?
Most geckos in the australis group live in trees. They are usually smaller than another group of geckos called the koira group, which prefer living on rocks. However, one of the new species, G. lauta, is a bit bigger.
Scientists also look at other things to tell these geckos apart. For example, adult male geckos have special pores (tiny holes) on their bodies.
- G. australis males have 10 to 14 pores.
- G. arnhemica males have 21 to 26 pores.
- G. lauta males have 22 to 32 pores.
They also have small differences in their scale patterns, especially on their chins. These tiny details help scientists know which gecko is which!
The Gehyra australis Group
The G. australis group includes the original G. australis and the new species. It also includes other related geckos like Gehyra borroloola, Gehyra robusta, and Gehyra pamela. All these geckos are closely related to each other.
Naming the Gecko
The first time G. australis was officially described was in 1845. This was done by a scientist named John Edward Gray. He used two gecko specimens (samples) from a museum in the UK to describe the species. Later, in 1983, scientists picked one of these specimens, from Port Essington in the Northern Territory, as the main example for the species. This helped confirm which geckos are truly Gehyra australis.
See also
- Dubious dtella, native Australian house gecko, or dubious four-clawed gecko (Gehyra dubia)
