- Source: Strophurus spinula
Strophurus spinula, commonly known as the lesser thorn-tailed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. It is endemic to Australia.
Taxonomy
The specific name spinula is Latin for 'little thorn', referring to the fact that its tail spines are comparatively small (a feature distinguishing it from the Goldfields spiny-tailed gecko).
The lesser thorn-tailed gecko was originally assigned as a population of Strophurus assimilis (the Goldfields spiny-tailed gecko). However, a 2023 study using molecular evidence has found it to be a distinct parapatric species, thus it was described as a new species Strophurus spinula.
Description
The lesser thorn-tailed gecko reaches a snout-vent length of 40.8 to 61.2 mm, with the tail being 47.8 to 64.8% of the SVL. Their body color is mostly grey, with darker markings on the dorsal surface and a wavy pattern on the dorsolateral edge. Enlarged tubercles are arranged in a pair of parallel lines running down dorsal surface on either side of the dorsal mid-line, often broken at regular intervals of length. In live specimens, the iris shows reticulated patterns and is surrounded by an orange-brown ring of color.
Distribution and habitat
S. spinula is found in the southern areas of Western Australia. It mostly occurs in Mulga woodland, also appearing in mallee and shrublands with acacia & eucalyptus. One specimen was collected recorded from a saline alluvial plain with scattered haplophytic shrubland in Rosemont.
