Barking Gecko

About the Barking Gecko

Underwoodisaurus milii is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Carphodactylidae. The species is commonly known as the thick-tailed or barking gecko, referring to its distinctive plump tail and sharp, barking defensive call. The genus is also often called thick-tailed geckos as a group, along with the species Uvidicolus sphyrurus.

The specific name, milii, is in honor of French sailor and naturalist Pierre Bernard Milius. Underwoodisaurus milii is reddish-brown with bands of white and yellow spots, and a paler underbelly. It usually grows to a total length (tail included) of 120–140 mm (4.7–5.5 in). The original tail is black with several pale bands; however, the regenerated tail has little pattern.

Underwoodisaurus milii is found in southern regions of Australia. Its distribution in Western Australia is throughout the southwest, the goldfields, wheatbelt, and Nullarbor regions to the east, and to Shark Bay in the north. It is also found at the Houtman Abrolhos and the Archipelago of the Recherche. U. milii is found in rocky outcrops and is slightly more cold-tolerant than many other Australian gecko species... Wikipedia →