Strophurus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Strophurus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia
Family: Gekkonidae
Subfamily: Diplodactylinae
Genus: Strophurus
Species

16 recognized species, see article.

Strophurus is a genus of the Gekkonidae family found in Australia, sometimes given the common name of tail-squirters and spiny-tailed geckos.

Description

The species of this genus are between 80 and 130 millimetres in length. The scales of the body are generally small and round, sometimes interspersed with enlarged scales and soft spines.

All members of this genus have the unique defence, the ability to squirt a harmless, but smelly, fluid from their tails. This is used to deter birds while they are perching in shrubbery, being unusual in the family by exposing themselves during the day. As with other geckos, they are also nocturnal. Some members lack spines and enlarged scales, while another subgroup contains spines on the tail and other parts of the body.[1]

Their habitat is amongst shrubs and hummock grass, occasionally moving to the ground for warmth or mating. This is especially found in the pregnant female, who uses the additional warmth of rocks and roads to assist development of the two eggs she carries.[1]

Diversity

There are 16 species of Strophurus,[2] and a number of subspecies.[1]

  • Strophurus assimilis - Storr 1988
  • Strophurus ciliaris - Boulenger 1885
  • Strophurus elderi - Stirling & Zietz 1893
  • Strophurus intermedius - Ogilby 1892
  • Strophurus jeanae - Storr 1988
  • Strophurus krisalys - Sadlier, O’meally and Shea 2005
  • Strophurus mcmillani - Storr 1978
  • Strophurus michaelseni - Werner 1910
  • Strophurus rankini - Storr 1979
  • Strophurus robinsoni - Smith 1995
  • Strophurus spinigerus - Gray, 1842
  • Strophurus strophurus - Duméril & Bibron 1836
  • Strophurus taeniatus - Lönnberg & Andersson 1913
  • Strophurus wellingtonae - Storr 1988
  • Strophurus williamsi - Kluge 1963
  • Strophurus wilsoni - Storr 1983

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Browne-Cooper, Robert; Brian Bush, Brad Maryan, David Robinson (2007). Reptiles and Frogs in the Bush: Southwestern Australia. University of Western Australia Press. pp. 123, 124. ISBN 978-1-920694-74-6. 
  2. ↑ "Strophurus". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2009-01-25. 

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.