Strophurus
| Strophurus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Lacertilia |
| Infraorder: | Gekkota |
| Family: | Gekkonidae |
| Subfamily: | Diplodactylinae |
| Genus: | Strophurus Fitzinger, 1843 |
| Species | |
|
18 recognized species, see article. | |
Strophurus is a genus of lizards in the family Gekkonidae. All species of Strophurus are endemic to Australia, and are sometimes given the common names tail-squirters and spiny-tailed geckos.
Description
The species of this genus are 80 to 130 mm (3.1 to 5.1 in) long. 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]
Species
There are 18 species of Strophurus,[2][3] and a number of subspecies.[1]
- Strophurus assimilis (Storr, 1988)
- Strophurus ciliaris (Boulenger, 1885)
- Strophurus elderi (Stirling & Zietz, 1893)
- Strophurus horneri P. Oliver & Parkin, 2014
- Strophurus intermedius (Ogilby, 1892)
- Strophurus jeanae (Storr, 1988)
- Strophurus krisalys (Sadlier, O’Meally & Shea, 2005)
- Strophurus mcmillani (Storr, 1978)
- Strophurus michaelseni (F. Werner, 1910)
- Strophurus rankini (Storr, 1979)
- Strophurus robinsoni (L.A. Smith, 1995)
- Strophurus spinigerus (Gray, 1842)
- Strophurus strophurus (A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1836)
- Strophurus taeniatus (Lönnberg & Andersson, 1913)
- Strophurus taenicauda (De Vis, 1886)
- Strophurus wellingtonae (Storr, 1988)
- Strophurus williamsi (Kluge, 1963)
- Strophurus wilsoni (Storr, 1983)
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Strophurus.
References
- 1 2 3 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.
- ↑ "Strophurus". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
- ↑ "Strophurus ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database-org.
Further reading
- Fitzinger L. 1843. Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae. Vienna: Braumüller & Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. (Strophurus, new genus, p. 96). (in Latin).
External links
Data related to Strophurus at Wikispecies