Phyllurus nepthys -- field photos

[moloch]

From the Mt. Ossa area, Gus and I drove to the Eungella Plateau. The plateau is covered with rainforest and is home to another of the 4 endemic Phyllurus that are found near Mackay.

Here are a couple of habitat shots from Eungella. These photos were from Finch Hatton Gorge, an area that is too low for the geckos. The geckos live in similar habitats but at higher elevations.

Phyllurus nepthys lives within the rainforest and can be found right on the trunks of trees. We tried a few areas in the forest without success but then visited another site where Gus has previously observed the geckos. This spot was productive again and we soon observed 10 lizards. Three of these were standing side-by-side in a crevice with just their heads protruding from the crack.

Here are a few shots of these animals:

Ocellated Velvet Geckos (Oedura monilis) were common in drier habitats.

We saw a Pink-tonged Skink (Cyclodomorphus gerrardii) along the road at night.

Blue-throated Rainbow Skinks (Carlia rhomboidalis) were common.

Saw-shelled Turtles were abundant in the Broken River. We also saw Platypus here.

Eastern Yellow Robins (pictured) and Pale-yellow Robins were both common in the forest understorey.

Rainbow Fish at Finch Hatton Gorge:

Regards,
David

 

[Luperosaurus]

Great! Thanks so lot!

 

[DDReptiles]

Another awesome post, another spot I gotta go to!!

 

[moloch]

Thanks, guys. P. nepthys is a much easier species to find than most. We did not need to go on a long night walk for them.

Regards,
David

 

[PassPort]

wow, it's been a while since I saw something I just had to have, but I'm really wishing these things were in the states now.

 

[moloch]

Thanks, Kevin.

Phyllurus nepthys seemed to be quite a spiny leaf-tailed gecko. The following is what I think to be a regenerated tail and it is covered with spines.

... and an original tail:

Regards,
David