AROD > Reptiles / Squamata / Gekkonidae / Diplodactylus /
Desert wood gecko |
Queen Victoria Spring, Western Australia Photo © Brad Maryan |
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Diplodactylus wiru | ||||||||||
Pronunciation | DIP-low-DAK-till-us | |||||||||
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Etymology |
Diplodactylus: 'double-toe'.1
wiru: The specific epithet is an adjective from the western desert languages (e.g., Pitjantjatjara, Ngaatjatjarra), wiru meaning 'beautiful' or 'fine'; chosen to highlight the bold markings of this species.2 |
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Other names | ||||||||||
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Description | Distribution | Natural history | Conservation | Further information | More photos |
Range'Southern Great Victoria Desert and adjacent sandy habitat blocks. Records extend southwest to Norseman, Western Australia, and east to the Lake Acraman area, Gawler Ranges, South Australia. Northern limits appear to be at about the level of the Serpentine Lakes, South Australia. Absent from the Nullarbor Plain. The absence of this species from the area immediately west of the WA border likely represents a gap in collecting effort.'2 Found in the following Australian states/territoriesWestern Australia, South Australia Habitat'Specimens pit-trapped or observed at night have been associated with large mallee eucalypts with extensive ground litter of fallen bark, branches and leaves. Unlike syntopic species of Lucasium (beaded gecko (Lucasium damaeum); Southern sandplain gecko (Lucasium bungabinna)) which were generally found in open sandy patches, specimens of Diplodactylus wiru appeared to stay close to woody debris and ‘cluttered’ understorey cover. The distributional pattern of D. wiru is highly congruent with those of a number of species that occur in a narrow band of sandy mallee vegetation communities that lie between the semiarid south coast and hinterland and the Great Victoria Desert'.2 |
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Notes and disclaimer
This information may not be complete. While all care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in this page, primary sources should always be consulted for definitive information. Animals have an endearing habit of disobeying the rules, so the information on this page should be interpreted with a degree of flexibility. The author and site operator accepts no responsibility for any losses or damages incurred through using this web site or the information contained herein. Don't get bitten by anything! This page may be cited as: Diplodactylus wiru at the Australian Reptile Online Database. Last updated 2017-06-13 14:05:13. Retrieved from http://arod.com.au/arod/?species=Diplodactylus+wiru on the 30th of March, 2024. Before citing information contained in AROD, please read our Citing AROD page. Copyright notice This page, its content and layout are copyright © 2007-2024 Stewart Macdonald / Ug Media, unless otherwise stated. All photographs in The Australian Reptile Online Database are © the photographer and may not be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of the photographer. No part of The Australian Reptile Online Database may be reproduced without written permission from Stewart Macdonald. |