Species:

Gehyra variegata

Variegated Dtella

Some other names for this species:

Tree Dtella

February 4, 2003

Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia

These geckos are found throughout most of Australia, and are very common around human habitation. Several of them were frolicking on the outside walls of the motel room our friends Martin and Julia were staying in on our second night in Australia. I knew the geckos were common, and didn't bother delaying our goodnights to snap a few photos. Of course, we never saw another in our three week trip.

Here is a complete list of the reptiles and frogs I saw on this trip to Australia.

Sighting:

November 12, 2005

Denham, Western Australia, Australia

Fortunately I didn't have to go my entire life regretting the missed opportunity in Alice Springs to photograph this species. On my next trip to Australia two years later, I found this chubby (gravid?) gecko concealed under a board, keeping a bunch of Bynoe's Geckos company.

Here is a complete list of the reptiles and frogs I saw on this trip to Western Australia.

Sighting:

November 17, 2009

Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

After ten days or so in which almost the only geckos I had seen were dull little non-native ones. I was all excited when our headlights caught a small gecko on the road at night. I got out of the car and went running over to see what marvelous Australian oddity I might find. I took a quick look at the dull little gecko and thought it was yet another Hemidactylus frenatus. I took a quick handheld photo and ran back to the car to look for something more interesting. It did occur to me that it was odd to see Hemidactylus frenatus on the ground. But after that I didn’t give it another thought until I got home and looked through my photos, and realized that it had been a native species after all.

I’ve written up an account of this three-week trip to Australia here.

Sighting:

November 24, 2009

Peron National Park, Western Australia, Australia

Back in Western Australia, this more dramatically-marked individual was prowling around on its adopted home, an old sheep-wool bag at the Peron Homestead.