Saltuarius is a genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of larger Australian gecko

Gecko

Geckos are lizards belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from 1.6 cm to 60 cm....

s, known collectively as Leaf-tailed Geckos. The genus was created in 1993 to accommodate former members of the genus Phyllurus

Phyllurus

Phyllurus is a small genus of Australian Leaf-tailed Geckos rarely seen outside their native habitat. They are notable for their highly effective camouflage which is in part aided by the spiny tubercles that cover every part of their body....

. These geckos are very similar to the Uroplatus

Uroplatus

Uroplatus is a genus of geckos commonly referred to as Flat or Leaf-tailed Geckos. All the comprising species are endemic to Madagascar or nearby islands, such as Nosy Be, where they are found in primary and secondary forests.-Etymology:...

 geckos native to Madagascar. This is a convergent evolution

Convergent evolution

Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages.The wing is a classic example of convergent evolution in action. Although their last common ancestor did not have wings, both birds and bats do, and are capable of powered flight. The wings are...

.

Habitat and distribution

The species inhabit Australia's eastern coast

Coast

A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...

al region, a vegetation composed of rainforest

Rainforest

Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...

s and dry Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...

 forests. Saltuarius cornutus and Saltuarius swaini are arboreal geckos, the remaining species live on rocky outcrops. They all need a high level of relative air humidity. The species from southern regions must hibernate for several months at temperatures varying between 8 °C (46.4 °F) and 15 °C (59 °F). These species invariably lay soft-shelled egg

Egg (biology)

An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...

s which are buried in humid substrates.

Species

• Northern Leaf-tail Gecko, Saltuarius cornutus
• Long-necked Northern Leaf-tailed, Saltuarius occultus
• Rough-throated Leaf-tail Gecko, Saltuarius salebrosus
• Southern Leaf-tailed Gecko, Saltuarius swaini
• Leaf-tailed Gecko, Saltuarius wyberba

The two new species have been discovered recently and have not yet been described scientifically.