Gehyra lazelli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gehyra lazelli |
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The Southern Rock Dtella, also known as Lazell's Dtella, is a type of gecko. Its scientific name is Gehyra lazelli. This small lizard lives only in Australia. It is part of the Gehyra group of geckos.
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What Does the Southern Rock Dtella Look Like?
This gecko can be dull brown or grey-brown. It has white spots that look like patches of lichen on rocks. This spotted pattern helps the gecko hide from animals that might try to eat it, like birds. It blends in with rocks and leaf litter.
The Southern Rock Dtella has a flat body and a thin tail. Its scales are smooth and even all over its body. A special way to tell this gecko apart is by its feet. Its third and fourth toes do not have webbing. However, its other fingers and toes are webbed. They also have sticky pads to help them grip surfaces.
Where Does the Southern Rock Dtella Live?
The Southern Rock Dtella is found only in Australia. It lives in central and western New South Wales. It also lives in the Nullarbor Plain in South Australia. People have seen this gecko near the border of northwestern Victoria. This makes scientists think it might also live in the edges of semi-arid parts of Victoria.
Home and Food of the Southern Rock Dtella
You can often find the Southern Rock Dtella warming itself on sunny rocks. It also likes to hide in cracks in rocky outcrops and stony hills. Sometimes, it hides under thick tree bark or fallen logs. At night, it searches for food in these rocky areas.
These rocky places are very important for the gecko. They provide energy from the sun, food, and protection from predators like birds. Most lizards eat animal protein. They are not picky eaters. The Southern Rock Dtella is the same. It eats small arthropods, which are like insects and spiders. It will eat anything that fits into its mouth.
Life Cycle and Family of the Southern Rock Dtella
The Gehyra group, which G. lazelli belongs to, has 44 different Australian species. These geckos live in many dry, semi-dry, and tropical parts of Northern Australia. The most common gecko in this group is the Gehyra variegata', or Tree Dtella. It lives almost everywhere in Australia.
Sadly, the homes of these geckos are shrinking. This is because of a lot of land clearing in Australia's woodlands. This makes their habitat broken into smaller pieces, a process called habitat fragmentation.
Like other reptiles, the Southern Rock Dtella reproduces by laying eggs. This is called being oviparous. Geckos usually lay two eggs at a time. This is called a clutch. Scientists have seen these geckos laying their eggs together in shared nests. They might share with other Southern Rock Dtellas or similar gecko species.
Protecting the Southern Rock Dtella
The Southern Rock Dtella is currently listed as a least concern species. This means it is not in danger of disappearing. This listing is on the IUCN global list of threatened species. In Australia, the gecko is protected by a law called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999).
