Knobtail Gecko
Size
They generally average 3.5 to 6 inches (9 to 15 cm) in total length.
Habitat and Distribution
Knob-tailed geckos are primarily native to the arid and semi-arid regions of Australia. They thrive in environments ranging from sandy deserts and dunes, to dry grasslands, scrublands and open woodlands.
Age
Knob-tail geckos typically have an average captive lifespan of 8 to 10 years, with some robust individuals living up to 10 to 15 years.
Diet
Their diet consists of live, appropriately-sized insects.
Groups and Breeding
Knobtail geckos are semi-social in captivity. They are typically housed in small breeding trios of one male and multiple females. However, multiple males should never be housed together as they are highly territorial and will aggressively fight. Their mating behavior involves a highly ritualized, visual, and acoustic courtship. It typically follows a winter cooling period and culminates in the male dancing, the female signaling her receptiveness, and copulation.
Threats
This species is listed as Least Concern, but they still face severe threats in the wild, primarily driven by invasive predators (feral cats and foxes), competition for food, and habitat degradation from off-road vehicles and livestock. Additionally, they are highly vulnerable to illegal poaching for the international pet trade
Interesting Facts
Knobtail geckos are tiny, drought-tolerant desert lizards native to Australia. Known for their oversized heads and permanent smiles, they feature stubby tails ending in a knob and are renowned for standing up tall on their legs and barking loudly when they feel threatened.
During Your Day Out in Kent
We have two of these geckos here at Wingham Wildlife Park, however they are currently off show in vivarium’s in the reptile kitchen.