Family GEKKONIDAE

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Introduction

A family primarily of small nocturnal lizards occurring throughout tropical and temperate regions. Restricted after Han et al. (2004), with seven genera and 75 species in Australia.

Diagnosis

Characterised in Australia by: well-developed pentadactyl limbs; eyes without movable eyelids, each covered by a fixed transparent spectacle; pupil (in daylight) a narrow vertical slit; external ear-opening present; body scales juxtaposed; tongue short, flat and fleshy, slightly notched in front.

General References

Cogger, H.G. 1979. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Sydney : A.H. & A.W. Reed 608 pp.

Cogger, H.G. 2000. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Sydney : Reed New Holland 6th edition, 808 pp.

Han, D., Zhou, K. & Bauer, A.M. 2004. Phylogenetic relationships among gekkotan lizards inferred from C-mos nuclear DNA sequences and a new classification of the Gekkota. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society of London 83: 353-368

Stephenson, N.G. 1960. The comparative osteology of Australian geckos and its bearing on their morphological status. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 44: 278-299

Wermuth, H. 1965. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien Gekkonidae, Pygopodidae, Xantusiidae. Das Tierreich 80(1–22): 1-246

Wilson, S. & Swan, G. 2003. A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia. Australia : Holland 448 pp.

Worrell, E. 1970. Reptiles of Australia. Sydney : Angus & Robertson xv 169 pp.

Common Name References

Cogger, H.G. 2014. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO publishing 7th edition, pp. xxx+1033. [345] (Typical Geckos)

History of changes