Beaked gecko

Taxobox
name = Beaked gecko
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Sauria
familia = Gekkonidae
subfamilia = Diplodactylinae
genus = "Rhynchoedura"
species = "R. ornata"
binomial = "Rhynchoedura ornata"

"Rhynchoedura ornata", commonly known as the Beaked Gecko, is a gecko found throughout a large part of the interior of Australia. It is the only member of the genus "Rhynchoedura". Its range covers New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and West Australia.

Description

It is a small, about 50 mm long nocturnal gecko, preferring desert habitats. The Beaked Gecko is reddish brown with tiny yellow, brown, and white spots. It's favored prey are termites.

The beaked gecko is endangered species, listed as a Schedule 4, requiring an "advanced" license to own and written notice of any transactions involving it, according to Victorian wildlife laws.

Taxonomy

Mitzy Pepper, a PhD student at the Australian National University's School of Botany and Zoology, is researching its taxonomy and now believes it consists of five or six separate species. [cite news
publisher=Canberra Times
title=Adding branches to the gecko family tree
first=Nyssa
last=Skilton
date=29 September 2008]

References