Saltuarius cornutus is a large gecko with a triangular head, narrow neck, a body length to 14 cm and an 8 cm broad, leaf-like tail. Unlike most geckos, it has clawed toes and no adhesive discs, probably due to its arboreal lifestyle. Body is flattened and limbs are long and spindly; dorsal surface bears sharply pointed tubercles (its eponymous "horns"). Camouflage coloration strongly resembles lichen-mottled bark. Its scientific name translates to "Horned Keeper of the Forest".
Habitatedit
Nocturnal tree dweller in warm temperate and tropical rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests, typically above 750m, in the Coastal and Great Dividing Ranges in NE Queensland and south to Taree in New South Wales.
Behaviouredit
Active at night and in cool conditions when most reptiles rest. When threatened, the gecko arches its back, raises and wags its tail from side to side to draw attention away from the head- if attacked it will readily shed its tail and grow another; however the new tail will be broader and flatter with different coloration and a short tip. Also known to open mouth and charge aggressors while vocalizing. Females lay 1–2 parchment-shelled eggs in a shallow nest covered with leaf litter and soil—up to 14 eggs from multiple females have been found in a single communal nest.[4]
Dietedit
The Northern leaf-tailed gecko eats large insects and other arthropods, including cockroaches and spiders.
Referencesedit
^Cogger, H.G. (2010). "Saltuarius cornutus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2010: e.T178216A7499834. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T178216A7499834.en. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
^Couper PC, Covacevich JA, Moritz C. 1993. A review of the leaf-tailed geckos endemic to eastern Australia: a new genus, four new species, and other new data. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum34 (1): 95-124. (Saltuarius, new genus, p. 97).
^Saltuarius cornutus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 26 June 2015.
^Cronin, Leonard. 2001. Phyllurus cornutus . Key Guide to Australian Reptiles and Amphibians
External linksedit
Queensland Museum
Wikispecies has information related to Saltuarius cornutus.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saltuarius cornutus.
December 20, 2023
northern, leaf, tailed, gecko, northern, leaf, tailed, gecko, saltuarius, cornutus, species, genus, saltuarius, australian, leaf, tailed, geckos, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylum, chor. The northern leaf tailed gecko Saltuarius cornutus is a species of the genus Saltuarius the Australian leaf tailed geckos 3 Northern leaf tailed geckoConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataFamily CarphodactylidaeGenus SaltuariusSpecies S cornutusBinomial nameSaltuarius cornutus Ogilby 1892 2 SynonymsGymnodactylus cornutus Ogilby 1892Phyllurus cornutus Ogilby 1892 Contents 1 Description 2 Habitat 3 Behaviour 4 Diet 5 References 6 External linksDescription editSaltuarius cornutus is a large gecko with a triangular head narrow neck a body length to 14 cm and an 8 cm broad leaf like tail Unlike most geckos it has clawed toes and no adhesive discs probably due to its arboreal lifestyle Body is flattened and limbs are long and spindly dorsal surface bears sharply pointed tubercles its eponymous horns Camouflage coloration strongly resembles lichen mottled bark Its scientific name translates to Horned Keeper of the Forest Habitat editNocturnal tree dweller in warm temperate and tropical rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests typically above 750m in the Coastal and Great Dividing Ranges in NE Queensland and south to Taree in New South Wales Behaviour editActive at night and in cool conditions when most reptiles rest When threatened the gecko arches its back raises and wags its tail from side to side to draw attention away from the head if attacked it will readily shed its tail and grow another however the new tail will be broader and flatter with different coloration and a short tip Also known to open mouth and charge aggressors while vocalizing Females lay 1 2 parchment shelled eggs in a shallow nest covered with leaf litter and soil up to 14 eggs from multiple females have been found in a single communal nest 4 Diet editThe Northern leaf tailed gecko eats large insects and other arthropods including cockroaches and spiders References edit Cogger H G 2010 Saltuarius cornutus The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species IUCN 2010 e T178216A7499834 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2010 4 RLTS T178216A7499834 en Retrieved 15 January 2018 Couper PC Covacevich JA Moritz C 1993 A review of the leaf tailed geckos endemic to eastern Australia a new genus four new species and other new data Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 34 1 95 124 Saltuarius new genus p 97 Saltuarius cornutus at the Reptarium cz Reptile Database Accessed 26 June 2015 Cronin Leonard 2001 Phyllurus cornutus Key Guide to Australian Reptiles and AmphibiansExternal links editQueensland Museum nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Saltuarius cornutus nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saltuarius cornutus Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Northern leaf tailed gecko amp oldid 1170001880, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
