You are here » home advanced search Gehyra versicolor

Gehyra versicolor HUTCHINSON, SISTROM, DONNELLAN & HUTCHINSON, 2014

Can you confirm these amateur observations of Gehyra versicolor?

Add your own observation of
Gehyra versicolor »

We have no photos, try to find some by Google images search: Google images

Higher TaxaGekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos)
Subspecies 
Common Names 
SynonymGehyra versicolor HUTCHINSON, SISTROM, DONNELLAN & HUTCHINSON 2014 
DistributionE Australia (N Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, S/C Northern Territory)

Type locality: 1.9 km SW of Reedy Hole Springs, Flinders Ranges, South Australia (30° 15’ 55ˮ S, 138° 49’ 30ˮ E)  
Reproductionoviparous (not imputed, fide Zimin et al. 2022) 
TypesHolotype: SAMA R51968K collected by J. Bice, on 19 November, 1998 (Fig. 7A). Paratypes (n=28; all genotyped as ‘Clade 5’): SAMA: R26185, Birdsville, Qld (25° 54’S, 139° 21’E), R28201, 1 km S Mt Dutton, SA (27° 49’S, 135° 43’E), R34249, 7 km E Mount Isa, Qld (20° 43’S, 139° 43’E), R38930, Yudnamatana, SA (30° 10’S, 139° 17’E), R38942, R38945, Lancoona HS, NSW (32° 22’S, 145° 53’E), R50277, 7 km SSE Mt Deception, Beltana Station, SA (30° 46’S, 138° 17’E), R51609K, 26.1 km ENE of Mimili, SA (26° 54’ 43” S, 132° 56’ 55” E), R51637K, 30.3 km WNW Indulkana, SA (26° 52’ 09” S, 133° 01’ 29” E), R51760K, 1.75 km W Yudnamutana Bore, SA (30° 10’S, 139° 16’E), R51782K, 10.4 km SW Yudnamutana Bore, SA (30° 14’S, 139° 11’E), R51912, 0.5 km NW Nudlamutana Well, SA (30° 22’S, 139° 21’E), R51962K, 2.8 km W Moosha Bore, SA (30° 19’S, 138° 47’E), R52366, 4.7 km W Parachilna Hill, SA (31° 08’S, 138° 33’E), R54530, 4.5 km N Station Creek crossing, Prairie–Muttaburra road, Qld (22° 02’S, 144° 37’E), R54546–47, 14 km NW Longreach on Landsborough Highway, Qld (23° 21’S, 143° 12’E), R55133, 2.7 km E Gluepot HS, SA (33° 45’S, 140° 09’E), R55268, Phosphate Hill mine, ‘Snappy Site’, Qld (21° 53’S, 139° 59’E), R55695–96, 13.4 km NNE Hughenden on Kennedy Developmental Road, Qld (20° 47’S, 144° 19’E), R55905, 9 km N New South Wales/Queensland border on Mitchell Highway, Qld (28° 58’S, 145° 44’E), R57970, 30.1 km SSW Memory Bore, SA (28° 53’S, 132° 44’E), R63576, Mutawintja NP, NSW (31° 17’S, 142° 18’E), R64097, Terrapinna Springs, SA (29° 55’S, 139° 40’E), R64443, Mt Fitton HS, SA (28° 59’S, 139° 33’E), R64447, 17 km E Mt Fitton HS, SA (29° 54’S, 139° 25’E), R64549, 1.3 km WNW Nantawarrinna, SA (30° 49’S, 138° 58’E), R64863, 6.9 km WNW Arkaroola HS (30° 18’S, 139° 19’E). 
DiagnosisDiagnosis: Morphologically shares the external features of G. variegata (see above) but distinguished from that species by karyotype (2n=40a or 2n=38a) (Fig. 2C–D). As with G. variegata, G. versicolor is most similar G. montium but distinguished by grey to brown rather than more rufous dorsal colouring, with white markings that form a posterior highlight or margin on the trailing edge of the dark dorsal lines, rather than forming discrete circular dots that are not coordinated with the dark markings. This diagnosis applies to populations of Gehyra genetically assignable to “Clade 5” of Sistrom et al. (2013). From Hutchinson et al. 2014. 
CommentThis species includes all of the eastern Australian populations formerly assigned to G. variegata.

Distribution: see map in Kealley et al. 2018: 4 (Fig. 1).

Karyotype: 2n=40a and 2n=38 
EtymologyThe specific name chosen here is from the Latin meaning ‘variable in colour’, appropriate for a species that shows considerable individual and geographic variation. Given the very wide distribution of the species it is somewhat surprising that no older name appears to be available for it in the synonymy of G. variegata. Cogger et al. (1983) listed several synonyms of Gehyra variegata. Subsequently, these have proven to be based on specimens attributable to other Australian Gehyra species groups, especially eastern species related to G. australis (Bauer & Henle 1994; Shea 1995). Other possible synonyms were discussed by Sistrom et al. (2009) in reference to G. lazelli; none apply to G. versicolor (HUTCHINSON et al. 2014) 
References
  • Edwards, C., Cornwell, W., & Letnic, M. 2021. Frequent consumption of sap suggests that omnivory is widespread among Australian geckos. The Science of Nature, 108(2), 1-6 - get paper here
  • HUTCHINSON, MARK N.; MARK J. SISTROM, STEPHEN C. DONNELLAN <br>& RHONDA G. HUTCHINSON 2014. Taxonomic revision of the Australian arid zone lizards Gehyra variegata and G. montium (Squamata, Gekkonidae) with description of three new species. Zootaxa 3814 (2): 221–241 - get paper here
  • Kealley, Luke; Paul Doughty, Mitzy Pepper, J. Scott Keogh, Mia Hillyer and Joel Huey 2018. Conspicuously concealed: revision of the arid clade of the Gehyra variegata (Gekkonidae) group in Western Australia using an integrative molecular and morphological approach, with the description of five cryptic species. PeerJ 6:e5334; DOI 10.7717/peerj.5334 - get paper here
  • Kearney, S.G.; P.L. Kern, and A.S. Kutt 2020. A baseline terrestrial vertebrate fauna survey of Pullen Pullen; a significant conservation reserve in south-west Queensland. Australian Zoologist - get paper here
  • Swan, G.; Sadlier, R.; Shea, G. 2017. A field guide to reptiles of New South Wales. Reed New Holland, 328 pp.
  • Zimin, A., Zimin, S. V., Shine, R., Avila, L., Bauer, A., Böhm, M., Brown, R., Barki, G., de Oliveira Caetano, G. H., Castro Herrera, F., Chapple, D. G., Chirio, L., Colli, G. R., Doan, T. M., Glaw, F., Grismer, L. L., Itescu, Y., Kraus, F., LeBreton 2022. A global analysis of viviparity in squamates highlights its prevalence in cold climates. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 00, 1–16 - get paper here
 
External links  
Is it interesting? Share with others:


Please submit feedback about this entry to the curator