Oedura facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oedura |
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| Ocellated velvet gecko (Oedura monilis) | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Diplodactylidae |
| Genus: | Oedura J. E. Gray, 1842 |
Oedura is a group of cool geckos, which are a type of lizard. They are often called velvet geckos because of their soft-looking skin. These geckos live only in Australia. They belong to the family called Diplodactylidae.
Contents
Where They Live
Most velvet geckos are found in the northern and eastern parts of Australia. Some also live in dry, desert-like areas such as the Pilbara, Central Ranges, and Flinders Ranges.
What They Do and Where They Hide
Velvet geckos are mostly active at night, which means they are nocturnal. During the day, they hide. They usually live in trees or among rocks. Their bodies are flat and have cool patterns.
These geckos are very good at hiding. They often tuck themselves away under peeling tree bark or in small cracks in rocks. One special type, Oedura filicipoda, lives in the Kimberley region. It has special fringes on its toes. These fringes help it cling to rocky overhangs. All velvet geckos are good at living in dry places. They can even go for months without food or water!
Types of Velvet Geckos
Scientists have identified many different types of velvet geckos. The first one described was Oedura marmorata in 1842 by John Edward Gray.
Here is a list of the 19 types of velvet geckos that scientists currently recognize:
- Oedura argentea Hoskin, Zozaya & Vanderduys, 2018
- Oedura bella Oliver & Doughty, 2016
- Oedura castelnaui (Thominot, 1889) – northern velvet gecko
- Oedura cincta De Vis, 1888
- Oedura coggeri Bustard, 1966 – northern spotted velvet gecko
- Oedura elegans Hoskin, 2019 – elegant velvet gecko
- Oedura filicipoda King, 1985 – fringe-toed velvet gecko
- Oedura fimbria Oliver & Doughty, 2016
- Oedura gemmata King & Gow, 1983 – jewelled velvet gecko
- Oedura gracilis King, 1985 – gracile velvet gecko
- Oedura jowalbinna Hoskin & Higgie, 2008
- Oedura lineata Hoskin, 2019 – Arcadia velvet gecko
- Oedura luritja Oliver & McDonald, 2016
- Oedura marmorata Gray, 1842 – marbled velvet gecko
- Oedura monilis De Vis, 1888 – ocellated velvet gecko
- Oedura murrumanu Oliver, Laver, Melville & Doughty, 2014 – limestone range velvet gecko
- Oedura nesos Oliver, Jolly, Skipwith, Tedeschi, & Gillespie, 2020
- Oedura picta Hoskin, 2019 – ornate velvet gecko
- Oedura tryoni De Vis, 1884 – southern spotted velvet gecko
Sometimes, a scientist's name is in parentheses after a species name. This means that the species was first described as belonging to a different group (genus) of animals.
Images for kids
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Oedura lesueurii used to be in the Oedura group, but now it's in the Amalosia group.
See also
In Spanish: Oedura para niños
