By Desrae Clarke
The Clawless Gecko is Australia’s smallest gecko, the male being approximately 30mm snout vent length (SVL) and the female a little longer at 33mm. The tail is about half the length of the body.
What is the SVL? It is the measurement used for reptiles, being from the tip of the snout to the area between the back legs. Measurement of the tail is added to the SVL for total length.
A clawless gecko. Photo: Guide to the Reptiles and Frogs of the Perth Region’, Brian Bush et al.
Ground colour of the Clawless Gecko is grey to light brown and finely flecked with black. It is sprinkled with ocelli, which are tiny, round markings with a dark edging, or the ocelli may be found in a stripe the length of the body. It has a pale grey belly that may or may not have black flecking.
The Clawless Gecko will lay two tiny soft-shelled eggs that hatch after about a month in quite hot weather.
As with all geckos, it can lose its tail, but it will regrow with lack of markings and reduced colouration.
Geckos are nocturnal and, although our personal records have noted them mainly in the summer, they are occasionally disturbed in the cooler months of the year while resting in dry, sheltered areas.
The Toodyay Naturalists’ Club welcomes sightings and observations of flora, fauna and all areas of natural history. To add your sightings, email secretary@toodyaynats.org.au or submit a sighting via our online form.
