The Broad-tailed Gecko Phyllurus platurus is a saxicolous lizard occurring in the Sydney Basin including the Sydney Metropolitan Area. A search of desktop records confirms that populations remain across the region, including in the central business district and in long-established suburbs. This paper reports on habitat selection derived from a population study carried out in a reserve of remnant bushland in the St George district. Open walls and the underside of overhangs were the most frequently exploited structures used by P. platurus. Geckos were found typically no higher than 2.5 m from the ground. The mean density of P. platurus had a negative relationship with available rock surface area. Geckos retaining original tails dominated the sample size, which is in contrast to previous work on museum specimens. Diurnal surveying was trialled, during which some P. platurus were detected on the outer edges of crevices. Survey results expand baseline information and inform future decisions aimed at promoting biodiversity in remnant bushland.

Abramsky, Z. and Tracy, C.R. 1980. Relation between home range size and regulation of population size in Microtus ochrogaster. Oikos 34: 347-355. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3544294
Atlas of Living Australia (ALA). Database available at http://www.ala.org.au. Accessed 1 November 2012. http://www.ala.org.au
Bustard, R.H. 1969. The population ecology of the gekkonid lizard Gehyra variegata (Dumeril and Bibron) in exploited forests in northern New South Wales. Journal of Animal Ecology 38: 35-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2739
Cogger, H.G. 1992. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed Books Australia, Melbourne.
Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia
Cogger, H.G. 2010. Sydney's herpetofauna: some observations on its history of discovery, biogeographic significance and contribution to the debate on effective reserve size. Pp. 198-218 in The Natural History of Sydney, edited by D. Lunney, P. Hutchings and D. Hochuli. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman NSW. http://dx.doi.org/10.7882/FS.2010.016
Department of Environment and Conservation. 2004.Systematic Survey of Vertebrate Fauna in Lane Cove National Park. Department of Environment and Conservation, Hurstville NSW.
Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. 2011.The Vertebrate Fauna of Kamay Botany Bay National Park. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, Hurstville NSW.
Doughty, P. and Shine, R. 1995. Life in two dimensions: natural history of the Southern leaf-tailed gecko, Phyllurus platurus. Herpetologica 51: 193-201.
Life in two dimensions: natural history of the Southern leaf-tailed gecko, Phyllurus platurus
Herpetologica
, vol. 
51
 (pg. 
193
-
201
)
Eco Logical Australia. 2006.Manly Warringah War Memorial Park Fire Regime Management Plan. Report prepared for Warringah Council. Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd, Sutherland NSW.
Faeth, S.H., Bang, C. and Saari, S. 2011. Urban biodiversity: patterns and mechanisms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1223: 69-81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05925.x
Green, D. 1973. Observations on the Southern leaf-tailed gecko Phyllurus platurus (Shaw). Herpetofauna 6: 21-24.
Observations on the Southern leaf-tailed gecko Phyllurus platurus (Shaw)
Herpetofauna
, vol. 
6
 (pg. 
21
-
24
)
Hall, C. and Hunter, G. 2012.Still Creek Wetland Management Plan. Report prepared for Sutherland Shire Council, and Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority. Molino Stewart Pty Ltd, and J. Wyndham Prince, Sydney.
Hamer, A.J. and McDonnell, M.J. 2010. The response of herpetofauna to urbanization: inferring patterns of persistence from wildlife databases. Austral Ecology 35: 568-580. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2009.02068.x
Little, D., Stevens, P., Gatenby, G. and O’Brien, V. 2010. Fauna of the Wolli Valley in inner south-west Sydney. Pp. 326-331 in The Natural History of Sydney, edited by D. Lunney, P. Hutchings and D. Hochuli. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman NSW. http://dx.doi.org/10.7882/FS.2010.027
McNab, B.K. 1963. Bioenergetics and the determination of home range size. The American Naturalist 97: 133-140. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/282264
New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. 1998.Lane Cove National Park: Plan of Management. NSW NPWS, Hurstville NSW.
Newberry B. and Jones D.N. 2007. Presence of Asian house gecko Hemidactylus frenatus across an urban gradient in Brisbane: influence of habitat and potential for impact on native gecko species. Pp. 59-65 in Pest or Guest: the Zoology of Overabundance, edited by D. Lunney, P. Eby, P. Hutchings and S. Burgin. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman NSW. http://dx.doi.org/10.7882/FS.2007.009
North Sydney Council. 2003a.Fauna Rehabilitation Plans: Primrose Park Bushland. North Sydney Council.
North Sydney Council. 2003b.Fauna Rehabilitation Plans: Tunks Park Bushland. North Sydney Council.
Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH).Atlas of NSW Wildlife available at http://www.bionet.nsw.gov.au. Accessed 1 November 2012. http://www.bionet.nsw.gov.au
Pianka, E.R. and Pianka, H.D. 1976. Comparative ecology of twelve species of nocturnal lizards (Gekkonidae) in the Western Australian Desert. Copeia 1976: 125-142. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1443783
Scanlon, J.D. and Davidson, C.L. 1999. Spring aggregation of the blindsnake Ramphotyphlops nigrescens (Typhylopidae). Herpetofauna 29: 57-58.
Spring aggregation of the blindsnake Ramphotyphlops nigrescens (Typhylopidae)
Herpetofauna
, vol. 
29
 (pg. 
57
-
58
)
Schlesinger, C.A. and Shine, R. 1994. Selection of diurnal retreat sites by the nocturnal gekkonid lizard Oedura lesueurii. Herpetologica 50: 156-163.
Selection of diurnal retreat sites by the nocturnal gekkonid lizard Oedura lesueurii
Herpetologica
, vol. 
50
 (pg. 
156
-
163
)
Semeniuk, M., Ginn, S. and Muir, G. 2010.Biodiversity Study of the Waverley Local Government Area. Report prepared for Waverley Council. Australian Museum Business Services, Sydney.
Shea, G.M. 2010. The suburban terrestrial reptile fauna of Sydney - winners and losers. Pp. 154-197 in The Natural History of Sydney, edited by D. Lunney, P. Hutchings and D. Hochuli. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman NSW. http://dx.doi.org/10.7882/FS.2010.015
Smith, P. and Smith, J. 1992. Flora and Fauna Study of McKay Reserve, Palm Beach. Report prepared for Pittwater Municipal Council. P and J Smith Ecological Consultants, Blaxland NSW.
Stow, A. 1998. Diurnal retreat sites for Leaf-tailed geckos, Phyllurus platurus. Herpetofauna 28: 25-29.
Diurnal retreat sites for Leaf-tailed geckos, Phyllurus platurus
Herpetofauna
, vol. 
28
 (pg. 
25
-
29
)
Swan, G. and Ehmann, H. 1996. Communal egglaying in the Broad-tailed gecko (Phyllurus platurus). Herpetofauna 26: 35-36.
Communal egglaying in the Broad-tailed gecko (Phyllurus platurus)
Herpetofauna
, vol. 
26
 (pg. 
35
-
36
)
Swan, G., Shea, G. and Sadlier, R. 2004.A Field Guide to Reptiles of New South Wales. 2nd Edition. Reed New Holland, Sydney.
A Field Guide to Reptiles of New South Wales
Threlfall, C.G., Law, B. and Banks, P.B. 2012. Influence of landscape structure and human modifications on insect biomass and bat foraging activity in an urban landscape. PloS ONE 7: 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0038800
White, A.W. 2010.Neverfail Bay and Oatley Point Reserve Fauna Study. Report prepared for Kogarah City Council. Biosphere Environmental Consultants Pty Ltd, Rockdale NSW.
White, A.W. and Burgin, S. 2004. Current status and future prospects of reptiles and frogs in Sydney's urban-impacted bushland reserves. Pp. 109-123 in Urban Wildlife: More than Meets the Eye, edited by D. Lunney and S. Burgin. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman NSW.
Urban Wildlife: More than Meets the Eye
(pg. 
109
-
123
)
Wilson, S.K. and Swan, G. 2013.A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia. 4th Edition. New Holland, Sydney.
A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia
This content is only available as a PDF.