Oedura
Oedura is a genus of medium to large geckos, lizards in the family Diplodactylidae. The genus is endemic to Australia. Species in the genus are referred to by the common name velvet geckos.
Geographic range
Most of the species of Oedura occur in northern and eastern Australia, with further isolates in the arid zone.Behaviour and habitat
Geckos of the genus Oedura are mostly arboreal and nocturnal, and have flattened bodies that are distinctly patterned. They are secretive tree or rock dwellers, usually concealing themselves beneath peeling bark or in cracks and crevices. A species found in the Kimberley region, Oedura filicipoda, is named for the plumose fringing on the toes that may assist in clinging to rocky overhangs. All species are adapted to their dry conditions and can go for months without food or water.Taxonomy
The content of the genus Oedura has been reduced by Oliver et al. in 2012, when they transferred four species to the genus Amalosia and erected two new monotypic genera, Hesperoedura for Oedura reticulata and Nebulifera for Oedura robusta.Species
The type species for the genus is Oedura marmorata, first described by John Edward Gray in 1842. The following is a list of the 19 valid species:- Oedura argentea
- Oedura bella
- Oedura castelnaui – northern velvet gecko
- Oedura cincta
- Oedura coggeri – northern spotted velvet gecko
- Oedura elegans – elegant velvet gecko
- Oedura filicipoda – fringe-toed velvet gecko
- Oedura fimbria
- Oedura gemmata – jewelled velvet gecko
- Oedura gracilis – gracile velvet gecko
- Oedura jowalbinna
- Oedura lineata – Arcadia velvet gecko
- Oedura luritja
- Oedura marmorata – marbled velvet gecko
- Oedura monilis – ocellated velvet gecko
- Oedura murrumanu – limestone range velvet gecko
- Oedura nesos
- Oedura picta – ornate velvet gecko
- Oedura tryoni – southern spotted velvet gecko
Species formerly in ''Oedura''
Transferred to genus Amalosia :- Oedura jacovae – valid as Amalosia jacovae
- Oedura lesueurii – Lesueur's velvet gecko, valid as Amalosia lesueurii
- Oedura obscura – slim velvet gecko, valid as Amalosia obscura
- Oedura rhombifer – zigzag velvet gecko, valid as Amalosia rhombifer
- Oedura reticulata – reticulated velvet gecko, valid as Hesperoedura reticulata
- Oedura robusta – robust velvet gecko, valid as ''Nebulifera robusta''