Search AROD:
AROD > Reptiles / Squamata / Gekkonidae / Oedura

Velvet geckos
Oedura - Gray, 1842

Pronunciation: oh-DUR-ah
Etymology: 'swollen tail', refering to the thick tail.

Taxonomic notes:

This genus was formerly revised in 20111. Members were moved to the following new/revised genera: Amalosia, Hesperoedura and Nebulifera.

Notes:
Statistics: Reproductive modes:
Oviparous - 15 out of 15 Australian species

Size range:
Smallest Australian species: Gulf marbled velvet gecko (Oedura bella) at cm
 Longest Australian species: marbled velvet gecko (Oedura marmorata) at 11 cm
Number of Australian species: 15
 

silver-eyed velvet gecko (Oedura argentea)
Cobbold Gorge, Queensland
Photo © Stephen Zozaya
silver-eyed velvet gecko (Oedura argentea) distribution range map Oedura argentea
Silver-eyed velvet gecko
Year described
Hoskin, Zozaya & Vanderduys 2018
Description

Gulf marbled velvet gecko (Oedura bella)
Western Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
Gulf marbled velvet gecko (Oedura bella) distribution range map Oedura bella
Gulf marbled velvet gecko
Year described
Oliver & Doughty 2016
Description

northern velvet gecko (Oedura castelnaui)
Archer River, Queensland
Photo © Stephen Zozaya
northern velvet gecko (Oedura castelnaui) distribution range map Oedura castelnaui
Northern velvet gecko
Year described
(Thominot 1889)
Description

inland marbled velvet gecko (Oedura cincta)
MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory
Photo © Stephen Zozaya
inland marbled velvet gecko (Oedura cincta) distribution range map Oedura cincta
Inland marbled velvet gecko
Year described
de Vis 1888
Description

northern spotted velvet gecko (Oedura coggeri)
Undara Volcanic National Park, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
northern spotted velvet gecko (Oedura coggeri) distribution range map Oedura coggeri
Northern spotted velvet gecko
Year described
Bustard 1966
Description

fringe-toed velvet gecko (Oedura filicipoda)
Mitchell Plateau, Western Australia
Photo © Stephen Zozaya
fringe-toed velvet gecko (Oedura filicipoda) distribution range map Oedura filicipoda
Fringe-toed velvet gecko
Year described
King 1984
Description

western marbled velvet gecko (Oedura fimbria)
Karijini NP, Western Australia
Photo © Stephen Zozaya
western marbled velvet gecko (Oedura fimbria) distribution range map Oedura fimbria
Western marbled velvet gecko
Year described
Oliver & Doughty 2016
Description

dotted velvet gecko (Oedura gemmata)
Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
dotted velvet gecko (Oedura gemmata) distribution range map Oedura gemmata
Dotted velvet gecko
Year described
King & Gow 1983
Description

gracile velvet gecko (Oedura gracilis)
North Kimberley, Western Australia
Photo © Henry Cook
gracile velvet gecko (Oedura gracilis) distribution range map Oedura gracilis
Gracile velvet gecko
Year described
King 1984
Description

Quinkan velvet gecko (Oedura jowalbinna)
Jowalbinna, Queensland
Photo © Ray Lloyd
Quinkan velvet gecko (Oedura jowalbinna) distribution range map Oedura jowalbinna
Quinkan velvet gecko
Year described
Hoskin & Higgie 2008
Description
Robust, medium-sized (SVL 60–69 mm) velvet gecko Unique dorsal colour pattern - dorsal surface of the body, head and limbs are pale pinkish grey with faint freckling. The only distinct markings are two pale, dark-edged bands - one across the neck, the other across the base of the tail. The original tail is yellow with small dark spots.

Mereenie velvet gecko (Oedura luritja)
Finke Gorge National Park, Northern Territory
Photo © Jordan de Jong
Mereenie velvet gecko (Oedura luritja) distribution range map Oedura luritja
Mereenie velvet gecko
Year described
Oliver & McDonald 2016
Description
"A moderately large (to 99 mm SVL) species of Oedura with a moderately wide (HW/SVL 0.17–0.20) and flat head (HD/SVL 0.072–0.091), tail moderately long (original TL/SVL 0.65–0.87), narrow (TW/SVL 0.07–0.11), distinctly narrower than head and body and tapering gradually to a tip, rostral less than 50% divided, postcloacal spur usually single (22 out of 23 specimens), 10–16 precloacal pores in adult males, dorsal scales small (less than 0.5 mm in diameter), head brown with light flecking but with no trace of a light canthal stripe or dark-brown postorbital or nuchal stripes, and dorsal coloration of adults usually including five to six moderately well-defined light bands or transverse blotches (yellow in life) on a purplish brown background." (Oliver & McDonald 2016)

marbled velvet gecko (Oedura marmorata)
Wongalara, Northern Territory
Photo © Stephen Zozaya
marbled velvet gecko (Oedura marmorata) distribution range map Oedura marmorata
Marbled velvet gecko
Year described
Gray 1842
Description

ocellated velvet gecko (Oedura monilis)
Eungella National Park region, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
ocellated velvet gecko (Oedura monilis) distribution range map Oedura monilis
Ocellated velvet gecko
Year described
De Vis 1888
Description

Limestone Range velvet gecko (Oedura murrumanu)
Oscar Range, Western Australia
Photo © Ray Lloyd
Limestone Range velvet gecko (Oedura murrumanu) distribution range map Oedura murrumanu
Limestone Range velvet gecko
Year described
Oliver, Laver, Melville & Doughty 2014
Description
"A large (SVL to 103 mm) species of Oedura, with a wide (HW/SVL 0.18–0.20) and relatively shallow head (HD/SVL 0.011), moderately long (TL/SVL 0.69–0.74) and slightly to moderately swollen tail (TW < HW), large eyes (EYE/SVL 0.067–0.069), rostral crease extending less than 20% height of rostral, digits with 3–7 paired sets of distal subdigital lamellae, of which the largest are expanded to form distinct lateral fringes, a weak postorbital stripe, light spots on dorsum and head typically > 3 scales wide, and 5 light bands on the tail."2

southern spotted velvet gecko (Oedura tryoni)
Conondale Ranges, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
southern spotted velvet gecko (Oedura tryoni) distribution range map Oedura tryoni
Southern spotted velvet gecko
Year described
De Vis 1884
Description

References
  1. Oliver, P.M.; Bauer, A.M.; Greenbaum, E.; Jackman, T.; & Hobbie, T. (2012). Molecular phylogenetics of the arboreal Australian gecko genus Oedura Gray 1842 (Gekkota: Diplodactylidae): Another plesiomorphic grade?. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 63(2):255-264. - search web for this article
  2. Oliver, Paul M; Laver, Rebecca J; Melville, Jane; & Doughty, Paul (2014). A new species of Velvet Gecko (Oedura: Diplodactylidae) from the limestone ranges of the southern Kimberley, Western Australia. Zootaxa, 3873(1):49-61.
Home
AROD | Reptile Info | About | Contact | In the wild | Reviews