Geckos

Broad-tailed Gecko - Great camouflage

The other weekend we found something up in the Blue Mountains that you don't see every day around Sydney. We were alerted to their presence by a loud squawking coming from behind a wall-hanging fountain. Upon further inspection, the noise was remarkably coming from three geckos who were sheltering there. Although I've seen loads of snakes, monitors, skinks and dragons this far south, I don't remember finding any geckos previously.

Greater camouflage but with a stumpy regenerated tail

These are the Broad-tailed Gecko (Phyllurus platurus) which is a species very much localised to sandstone areas around Sydney apparently. My reptile book also informs me that geckos do indeed have a voice, although they may be rarely heard, and they also have large unblinking eyes which require licking to keep clean.

Large unblinking eyes

Most geckos will also drop their tails when threatened and the lighter coloured one here has obviously done that as it's showing off the classic smooth and stumpy second tail. These guys hang about in crevices throughout the day and emerge at night to eat things. Unless of course they're disturbed by someone spraying termite poison about the place.

Actually this is the right way up