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AROD > Reptiles / Squamata / Gekkonidae / Strophurus

Spiny-tailed/striped geckos
Strophurus - Fitzinger, 1843

Pronunciation: stroff-YUHR-uss
Etymology: 'turning-tail'

Taxonomic notes:

Members of this genus used to be in the genus Diplodactylus.

Fitzinger, L.J. (1843). Systema Reptilium. Braümüller und Seidel : Vienna 106 pp.

Notes:
Statistics: Reproductive modes:
Oviparous - 20 out of 20 Australian species

Size range:
Smallest Australian species: golden-eyed gecko (Strophurus trux) at cm
 Longest Australian species: northern spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus ciliaris) at 8.9 cm
Number of Australian species: 20
 

thorn-tailed gecko (Strophurus assimilis)
Lake Moore, Western Australia
Photo © Ray Lloyd
thorn-tailed gecko (Strophurus assimilis) distribution range map Strophurus assimilis
Thorn-tailed gecko
Year described
(Storr 1988)
Description

northern spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus ciliaris)
Tanami Desert, Northern Territory
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
northern spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus ciliaris) distribution range map Strophurus ciliaris
Northern spiny-tailed gecko
Year described
(Boulenger 1885)
Description

Congoo gecko (Strophurus congoo)
Petford region, Queensland
Photo © Eric Vanderduys
Congoo gecko (Strophurus congoo) distribution range map Strophurus congoo
Congoo gecko
Year described
Vanderduys 2016
Description

jewelled gecko (Strophurus elderi)
Windorah, Queensland
Photo © David Fischer
jewelled gecko (Strophurus elderi) distribution range map Strophurus elderi
Jewelled gecko
Year described
(Stirling & Zietz 1893)
Description

Arnhem phasmid gecko (Strophurus horneri)
Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
Photo © Brendan Schembri
Arnhem phasmid gecko (Strophurus horneri) distribution range map Strophurus horneri
Arnhem phasmid gecko
Year described
Oliver & Parkin 2014
Description
"A very small (SVL ~ 36 mm) and slender-bodied Strophurus with a narrow head (HW/SVL 0.15–0.16), no caudal spines or tubercles, rostral separated from the nostril by an internasal scale, a high number of relatively small supralabials (13–15), and body coloration in life consisting of four broad yellow longitudinal stripes on a greyish or brown background. As more specimens of this species are examined it may be confirmed that rostral not or only partially divided by a strongly defined medial groove is another useful diagnostic character. Males of all related taxa (S. jeanae, S. robinsoni, S. taeniatus and Strophurus cf. horneri from elsewhere on the Arnhem Plateau) also lack post-cloacal or femoral pores, and it is presumed that this species also shares this character state."1 Yellowish wash forms "four distinct longitudinal stripes that contrast strikingly against the bordering areas which are light to almost bluish grey with very fine light brown flecking. The iris is light grey with extensive very fine light brown vermiculations, while the pupil is elliptical with distinctly scalloped edges."1

southern spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus intermedius)
Pilliga, New South Wales
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
southern spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus intermedius) distribution range map Strophurus intermedius
Southern spiny-tailed gecko
Year described
(Ogilby 1892)
Description
Blue mouth lining. No spines over eyes. Orange tubercles on back and in two longitudinal rows on tail.

southern phasmid gecko (Strophurus jeanae)
Port Hedland, Western Australia
Photo © Jordan Vos
southern phasmid gecko (Strophurus jeanae) distribution range map Strophurus jeanae
Southern phasmid gecko
Year described
(Storr 1988)
Description

Kristin's spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus krisalys)
Normanton, Queensland
Photo © Gina Barnett
Kristin's spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus krisalys) distribution range map Strophurus krisalys
Kristin's spiny-tailed gecko
Year described
Sadlier, O'Meally & Shea 2005
Description

short-tailed striped gecko (Strophurus mcmillani)
Northern Kimberley, Western Australia
Photo © Henry Cook
short-tailed striped gecko (Strophurus mcmillani) distribution range map Strophurus mcmillani
Short-tailed striped gecko
Year described
(Storr 1978)
Description

robust striped gecko (Strophurus michaelseni)
Watheroo National Park, Western Australia
Photo © Henry Cook
robust striped gecko (Strophurus michaelseni) distribution range map Strophurus michaelseni
Robust striped gecko
Year described
(Werner 1910)
Description

Exmouth spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus rankini)
Coral Bay, Western Australia
Photo © Stephen Zozaya
Exmouth spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus rankini) distribution range map Strophurus rankini
Exmouth spiny-tailed gecko
Year described
(Storr 1979)
Description

Robinson's spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus robinsoni)
Bungle Bungles, Western Australia
Photo © Ray Lloyd
Robinson's spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus robinsoni) distribution range map Strophurus robinsoni
Robinson's spiny-tailed gecko
Year described
(Smith 1995)
Description

soft spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus spinigerus)
Rottnest Island, Western Australia
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
soft spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus spinigerus) distribution range map Strophurus spinigerus
Soft spiny-tailed gecko
Year described
Gray 1842
Description

western spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus strophurus)
Shark Bay, Western Australia
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
western spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus strophurus) distribution range map Strophurus strophurus
Western spiny-tailed gecko
Year described
(Duméril & Bibron 1836)
Description

phasmid striped gecko (Strophurus taeniatus)
Wongalara Sanctuary, Northern Territory
Photo © Stephen Zozaya
phasmid striped gecko (Strophurus taeniatus) distribution range map Strophurus taeniatus
Phasmid striped gecko
Year described
(Lönnberg & Andersson 1913)
Description

golden-tailed gecko (Strophurus taenicauda)
Barakula State Forest, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
golden-tailed gecko (Strophurus taenicauda) distribution range map Strophurus taenicauda
Golden-tailed gecko
Year described
(De Vis 1886)
Description

No thumbnail available golden-eyed gecko (Strophurus trux) distribution range map Strophurus trux
Golden-eyed gecko
Year described
Vanderduys 2017
Description

Western Shield spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus wellingtonae)
Wiluna, Western Australia
Photo © Jordan Vos
Western Shield spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus wellingtonae) distribution range map Strophurus wellingtonae
Western Shield spiny-tailed gecko
Year described
(Storr 1988)
Description

eastern spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus williamsi)
Alpha, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
eastern spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus williamsi) distribution range map Strophurus williamsi
Eastern spiny-tailed gecko
Year described
Kluge 1963
Description
Four longitudinal rows of orange tubercles on tail.

Mount Augustus spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus wilsoni)
Waldburg Station, Western Australia
Photo © Brad Maryan
Mount Augustus spiny-tailed gecko (Strophurus wilsoni) distribution range map Strophurus wilsoni
Mount Augustus spiny-tailed gecko
Year described
(Storr 1983)
Description

References
  1. Oliver, Paul M & Parkin, Tom (2014). A new phasmid gecko (Squamata: Diplodactylidae: Strophurus) from the Arnhem Plateau: more new diversity in rare vertebrates from northern Australia. Zootaxa, 3878(1):37-48.
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