Underwoodisaurus milii
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Thick-tailed gecko | ||||||||||||||||
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| Underwoodisaurus milii |
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Nephrurus milii |
Underwoodisaurus milii, also classified as Nephrurus milii is commonly known as the thick-tailed gecko or barking gecko. These names come from its distinctive plump tail and sharp, barking defensive call.
Thick-tailed geckos are reddish-brown with bands of white and yellow spots and paler underbelly. They may grow up to 95 mm in length. Their original tail is black with several pale bands, however regenerated tails have little pattern. When threatened, they will arch their backs and "bark". Thick-tailed geckos are found in rocky outcrops across southern Australia, and are slightly more cold-tolerant than many other Australian gecko species. They are nocturnal, and shelter underneath rocks or in burrows during the day. They feed on insects and small vertebrates.
Unusually for reptiles, this species forms aggregations in their retreat sites during the day. The reasons for this are unknown.
The species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, nor the Australian EPBC Act, and may be kept as a pet with the appropriate license in at least some states of Australia.
