Phyllurus

Phyllurus
Phyllurus platurus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia or
Sauria
Infraorder: Gekkota
Family: Gekkonidae
Subfamily: Carphodactylinae
Genus: Phyllurus[1]
Schinz, 1822[2][3]

Phyllurus is a small genus of Australian leaf-tailed geckos. Rarely seen outside their native habitat, they are notable for their highly effective camouflage which is in part aided by the spiny tubercles that cover every body part.

Most member species, except for P. caudiannulatus, P. gulbaru and P. kabikabi, have very flattened, leaf-shaped tails. Some of these species have recently been reassigned to the genus Saltuarius. The Phyllurus geckos resemble the Uroplatus geckos of Madagascar. This is an example of convergent evolution because they are not closely related.

Species

The following species are recognized as being valid.[4]

Phyllurus cornutus (Ogilby, 1892), the northern leaf-tailed gecko, is now placed in the genus Saltuarius.

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Phyllurus.

References

  1. Nomenclator Zoologicus
  2. Dahms Tierleben. www.dahmstierleben.de/systematik/Reptilien/Squamata/Gekkota/Carphodactylidae.
  3. Russell AP. 1980. Underwoodisaurus Wermuth, a junior synonym of Phyllurus Schinz 1822. Journal of Herpetology 14 (4): 415-416.
  4. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading

Wikispecies has information related to: Phyllurus
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