Warrumbungle NP -- Oedura monilis

[moloch]

Ocellated Velvet Geckos (Oedura monilis) were farily frequent in the Warrumbungles. I found up to 10 of them each night on the road or climbing on the walls of the park headquarters and other structures. I think that the colour phase from the Warrumbungles is particularly beautiful.

Gecko 1

Gecko 2

Gecko 3

Gecko 4

This gecko flicked its tail from side to side, a bit like a cat.

I found this gecko on a wattle (Acacia sp.). When I first found it, it appeared to be tugging a piece of sap that was oozing from the tree. Are these geckos known to eat sap?
Gecko 5

 

[GeckoTom]

wonderful pics, as always, thanks!!!

 

[nathanbrisvegas]

i love gecko number 4 its very cute

one of the publications from a herp society in vic stated that strophurus sp. and oedura sp ate the sap of accacia trees

pretty cool that you got to see it first hand

 

[MiCh@3L]

These Warrumbungle located O. monilis are really special.

Thanks again for sharing, David!

Best regards,

Michael

 

[Tariq Stark]

I found this gecko on a wattle (Acacia sp.). When I first found it, it appeared to be tugging a piece of sap that was oozing from the tree. Are these geckos known to eat sap?

Ofcourse I do not know for sure if this species will consume sap from a tree. But I do know that my captive specimens will consume substances with a high sugar content like fruitmash and such. It is not uncommon for geckos to lap up nectar, honey, fruit etcetera. For example, the sap of the birch (tree) is also quite sweet and lot of animals make use of it during spring. I would not be suprised if O. monilis will lap up sap from an injured tree given the oppurtunity. But hey, you tell me. You are our digital fieldguide

Maybe a bit of odd request, but can you make some pictures of possible food items that this species may feed on?

Again, great pictures of absolutely stunning animals!

Tariq

 

[Ken Bartenfeld]

Maybe a bit of odd request, but can you make some pictures of possible food items that this species may feed on?

I would like this as well if it's not a problem.

Thanks.

 

[oli]

Was he tugging on the sap with his mouth or his hands/arms? j/k very nice pics, i like the one that wags its tail like a cat. :lol:

 

[moloch]

Thanks, everyone.

Nathan and Tariq,
That was interesting info that you had about the diets. Thanks.

oli,
The gecko was tugging at the sap with its mouth. I could not see whether it successfully pulled off a piece but that is what the gecko appeared to be attempting.


Tariq and Ken,
I did not take any photos of potential prey. I did see various grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, spiders, centipedes and the like on the road. I would expect the geckos to eat some of these.


Here are a couple of photos of Wood Katydids. I don't know for certain, but I assume that they must be poisonous with such bright warning colours. I saw these several times. Some were wingless with rounded bodies that looked a little like a spider. Others had a typical katydid shape and had wings.

This photo was taken early this year although I saw more on the Nov trip.

This one was winged and it would not stop moving when I attempted to photograph it.

Here is a link regarding the katydids:
http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_grasshoppers/MountainKatydid.htm

 

[nathanbrisvegas]

aaah i always called them mountain katydids lol i didnt know they were wood katydids

i have seen O robusta doing the same tail waving thing aswell as gaping their mouths real wide and then launching at me pretty cute really

 

[moloch]

Oops. My mistake. You are right, Nathan. I should have said "Mountain Katydids", not "Wood Katydids".

There is a good link about these here:

http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_grasshoppers/MountainKatydid.htm

Regards,
David

 

[geckodan]

I have not observed O.monilis eating sap as you have but Paradelma orientalis (a pygopod from similar habitat) certainly gains much nutrition in this way.