Cape Melville Leaf-tailed Gecko
Saltuarius eximius
- Endangered
- Card rarity: Epic
- Reptiles
The Cape Melville leaf-tailed gecko is a species of geckos that is endemic to the Melville Range on Cape Melville in Northern Australia. The species was described in 2013 by Australian zoologists Conrad Hoskin and Patrick J. Couper. The lizards are about 20 cm (7.9 in) long and are believed to be a relic species from the time period rainforests were more abundant in Australia. The name derives from the Latin word for "extraordinary" or "exquisite", and refers to the lizard's distinctive, camouflaged appearance. It hides among rocky boulders in the day and emerges at night to hunt on rocks and trees. The lizard has large eyes, a long and slender body, and specialized limbs adapted to life in dimly lit boulder fields.
Classification
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Squamata
- Family
- Carphodactylidae
- Genus
- Saltuarius