|
The Genus Nephrurus |
|
|
| The vernacular name 'knob-tailed geckos' alludes to a feature shared by any species and subspecies of this Australian genus, i.e to a knob-like structure at the tip of the tail. |
| The genus Underwoodisaurus, included into Nephrurus by Bauer (1990) is still regarded as an independent taxon by the author. |
| The indivudual species show highly f´differring habits, and you must know exactly where the respective species lives if it is to beb kept successfully. N. amyae, N. asper, N. sheai, N. w. wheeleri and N. w. cinctus need dry hioding-places wheres the remaining species invariably spend the day at depths where the sandy substrate is comparatively moist. A certain level of humidity is vital for these animals. This phenomenon may be best observed in N. laevissimus: these anaimals are bound to die of desiccation in no time if they cannot find suitable moist hiding-places. |
| The respective demands of the individual species may be estimated by means of their skin structure: Nephrurus geckos with a smooth skin invariably need humid hiding-places whereas those showing a rather corse epidermis rarely tend to burrow themselves. On the other hand, any subspecies of N. levis, the species N. laevissimus, N. vertebralis and N. stellatus are known to excavate deep burrows whose mouths are closed every morning; in the wild, these burrows usually end at a depth of approx. 40-50 cm where the sandy substrate is almost continuously moist. The local temperatures are very stable, too. |
|
The other species preferably hide under larger objects. These taxa are mainly found on firm, condensed substrata whereas sandy flats are generally avoided. |
|
|
| Nephrurus amyae | Nephrurus asper | Nephrurus deleani | Nephrurus laevissimus |
[ Back ]