Zigzag velvet gecko (Oedura rhombifur) - endangered species listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the Zigzag Velvet Gecko Oedura rhombifer Gray 1845 as an ENDANGERED SPECIES in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Act. Listing of endangered species is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.

NSW Scientific Committee - final determination

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1. The Zigzag Velvet Gecko is a slender, insectivorous lizard that reaches an approximate total length of 16cm (Cogger 2000). Individuals are rich brown above and whitish below with the sides and limbs speckled darker or paler brown. The species takes its name from a broad pale brown or cream vertebral band with a ragged zigzag edge on either side.

2. The Zigzag Velvet Gecko is distributed across northern Australia from the Kimberley region, Western Australia, to northern Queensland, with an outlying population in the Alice Springs region (Cogger 2000). The species is largely confined to woodland habitats, however it has also been recorded from rubbish dumps and buildings. The Zigzag Velvet Gecko is usually arboreal and shelters beneath the decorticating bark of standing or fallen trees, and sometimes in ground litter.

3. Until recently, no records of the species were known from NSW. In 2002, an individual was recorded in Bebo State Forest, north of Warialda near the NSW-Queensland border, and another individual was recorded in Arakoola Nature Reserve, 50km south of Bebo (M. Pennay, pers. comm.). Both individuals were found beneath the decorticating bark of standing trees. The Bebo specimen was on a Bull Oak, Allocasuarina luehmannii and the Arakoola specimen was on a Smooth-barked Apple,  Angophora leiocarpa.

4. The Zigzag Velvet Gecko is threatened by habitat loss and degradation. Alteration to natural fire regimes also may reduce the availability of habitat to geckos by removing leaf litter and fallen timber.

5. Threats to the Zigzag Velvet Gecko may be exacerbated by its apparent rarity and isolation in NSW. Although it occurs in Arakoola Nature Reserve, the small size and isolation of the population within this reserve makes it at risk of extinction from stochastic events.

6. In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the Zigzag Velvet Gecko Oedura rhombifer Gray 1845 is likely to become extinct in nature in New South Wales unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival cease to operate.

Associate Professor Paul Adam
Chairperson
Scientific Committee

Proposed Gazettal date: 25/06/04
Exhibition period: 25/06/04 - 06/08/04

Reference:

Cogger HG (2000) 'Reptiles and amphibians of Australia.' (Reed Books: Chatswood).