Yellow-snouted Gecko, Yellow-snouted Ground Gecko  |  

Lucasium occultum

Status: Endangered on the EPBC Act list

Diplodactylus occultus, Family Gekkonidae, also known as the Yellow-snouted Gecko and Yellow-snouted Ground Gecko, is a small ground-dwelling gecko with a snout-to-vent length of 40 mm. The species is dark brown above, with a reddish head, four large, squarish pale brown blotches along the back, and whitish spots scattered on the flanks and limbs

Government evidence of impact of climate change:

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  • Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Diplodactylus occultus

    Threats The main potential threats affecting the Yellow snouted gecko include inappropriate fire regimes and introduced pasture species.

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  • Australian Government, Listing Advice, Diplodactylus occultus

    Although all known records of the species are from areas reserved for conservation; the quality of the habitat of the Yellow snouted Ground Gecko is likely to be declining due to altered fire regimes across the region; combined with the invasion of exotic pasture grasses.

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  • This altered fire regime also reduces the amount of leaf litter in which the species shelters; and thus increases predation risks.
    Therefore a decline in the quality of habitat of the Yellow snouted Ground Gecko is inferred from the altered fire regime across its known range.
    Compounding these changed fire regimes is the invasion of exotic pasture grasses in the Wildman and Mary River catchments; particularly gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) and mission grass (Pennisetum polystachyon).
    Studies of these exotic grasses in open forests in Wildman River Reserve suggest that fuel loads are increased relative to comparable open forests with native grasses; resulting in increased fire intensities (Rossiter et al. 2003).
    The decline in quality of the Yellow snouted Ground Gecko habitat caused by altered fire regimes; combined with the species restricted extent of occurrence; makes its geographic distribution precarious for its survival.
    The decline in quality of the Yellow snouted Ground Gecko habitat caused by altered fire regimes; combined with the species restricted extent of occurrence; makes its geographic distribution precarious for its survival.
    The quality of the habitat of the Yellow snouted Ground Gecko is likely to be declining due to altered fire regimes across the region; combined with the invasion of exotic pasture grasses.
    The decline in quality of the Yellow snouted Ground Gecko habitat caused by altered fire regimes; combined with the species restricted extent of occurrence; makes its geographic distribution precarious for its survival.

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