Western marbled velvet gecko
Oedura fimbria
This species of gecko was recently described using a combination of molecular and morphological data. Before description, specimens of O. fimbria were identified as O. marmorata. However, closer inspection of this morphologically diverse lineage led to the discovery that Western Australian specimens belonged to a new species.
This is typical of many saxicoline (rock dwelling) species of reptile, as the strong habitat affinity causes populations to become isolated for long periods of time and undergo speciation.
Morphology
Morphologically, O. fimbria is distinguished from O. marmorata by their narrower tails. However, the discovery of O. fimbria also led to the description of two other new species, O. cincta, and O. bella. Oedura fimbria is genetically diagnosable via molecular data and also possesses a diagnostic morphological character (rostral partially divided versus fully divided).
Evolution
Oedura fimbria is most closely related to O. cincta, which is comprised of two distinct evolutionary units centred on the Central Ranges and the Cooper and Darling basins. It is not uncommon to discover deep genetic divergence within reptile taxa, especially those with strong habitat affinities. In many geckos, genetic analyses have recovered deeply divergent lineages which have later been recognised as new species following closer morphological analysis. This work is ongoing for much of Australia's herpetofauna where new species are being discovered regularly.
Method of reproduction
Sexual
Habitat
Terrestrial
Rocky outcrops with large boulders or on cliff faces.
Distribution
Western Australia, Pilbara and central western regions.
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Saurina |
| Family: | Diplodactylidae |
| Genus: | Oedura |
| Species: | fimbria |
| Name Published Year: | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Rank: | species |
| Scientific Name Authorship: | Oliver & Doughty |
| Commercial Impact: | None |
| Conservation Assessment: | Least Concern |
Cite this page
Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/names/oedura-fimbria
Accessed 2 Sep 2023
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