Lucasium stenodactylum

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Lucasium stenodactylum, also known as the crowned gecko or pale-snouted ground gecko, is a small gecko from Australia.

What it looks like
- Color ranges from reddish brown to brown.
- Most adults are about 90 mm long from nose to where the tail begins.
- A cream or white stripe usually runs from each eye toward the back of the neck, where the stripes join. In some individuals the stripe is pale or missing.
- There may be small pale spots on the limbs and sides.
- Underbelly is whitish. Tail is slender and makes up about 80% of body length. Scales are uniform on the body and flanks.

Where it lives
- Found in four separate areas of New South Wales: Sturt National Park, Mutawintji National Park, and Thurloo Downs.
- Lives in red and sandy soils, savannah woodlands, and shrubby, rocky areas.
- It is nocturnal and hunts insects at night.

Taxonomy and naming
- It was first described in 1896 by Boulenger as Diplodactylus stenodactylus.
- It has also been called Diplodactylus stenodactylus in some classifications.
- The genus Lucasium was revived in the 2000s to include this group, and Lucasium stenodactylum is the current name.
- Molecular studies have shown deep genetic differences within related gecko groups, helping scientists understand their evolution.

Conservation
- In New South Wales, L. stenodactylum is listed as vulnerable.
- In Queensland and the Northern Territory, its status is listed as least concern.
- Threats include grazing by introduced animals and predation by foxes and cats. Fragmentation of habitats increases the risk of extinction due to genetic problems and extreme events like droughts or fires.