Oedura cincta
Creators: name: Oliver, Paul M.
name: Doughty, Paul
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia
Squamata
Diplodactylidae
Oedura
Oedura cincta

description: Oedura cincta de Vis, 1888
Inland marbled velvet gecko Figs. 3, 5–6
Lectotype. QM J226, Charleville, Queensland, Australia (collected by Kendall Broadbent in 1885). Paralectotypes. AMS R5602, AMS R5603, as for lectotype.
Synonomy. Oedura derelicta Wells & Wellington, 1985, holotype—NTM R11413, Jessie Gap, Alice Springs, Northern Territory.
Diagnosis. A large-bodied (SVL: mean 90 mm, max 108 mm) species in the O. marmorata complex, with a moderately broad head (HW/SVL 0.17–0.21), moderately long body length (Trk/SVL 0.42–0.53), moderately long tail (original TL/SVL 0.61–0.79) narrower than head and roughly circular in cross-section, rostral usually completely divided, apical lamellae wide (ToeW/SVL 0.023–0.036), subdigital lamellae in a flared series that on fingers 3 and 4 is wider than apical pair, 9–21 precloacal pores in adult males and dorsal pattern (especially conspicuous on juveniles) of 5 or 6 light transverse bands on purplish-brown background.
Description. A large (max SVL 108 mm) and moderately elongate Oedura (Trk/SVL 0.42–0.53). Head moderately wide (HW/SVL 0.17–0.21) and deep (HD/SVL 0.07–0.12). Rostral usually fully (n = 39) or near fully divided (n = 5), bordered dorsally by two internasals, internasal bordered dorsally by two relatively small, roundish supranasals and 3–5 (mode = 3) small intervening scales. Enlarged supralabials 9–11 to midpoint of eye, 9–13 in total, second supralabial equal to or slightly higher than first, infralabials 10–15. Limbs moderately long (ArmL/ SVL 0.11–0.14, LegL/SVL 0.12–0.16). Subdigital lamellae expanded and prominent, 6–9 under third finger, 8–10 under third toe, distal lamellae on digits either divided or deeply notched, apical pair distinctly larger (but not always wider) than and separated from other pairs, penultimate pair slightly narrower, subsequent lamellae on digits two to five forming distinctly flared series, proximal lamellae undivided.
Enlarged postcloacal spurs in a single cluster of between 1–4 (mode 2). Original tail moderately long (TL/SVL 0.58–0.79) and narrow (TW/SVL 0.07–0.15) with a slight ventral groove, varying from somewhat depressed to almost circular in cross section, width and depth varies greatly depending on body condition, caudal scalation homogeneous, squarish flat scales arranged in regular rows. Fully regrown tails shorter (TL/SVL 0.43–0.65) than original tails but comparably wide (TW/SVL 0.09–0.13).
In preservative, base colouration of dorsum usually dark purplish brown, with a nuchal band and 5 further narrow pale buff transverse bands between the limbs, and a further 5–8 similar bands on the tail. Pale bands often with dark brown regions within them. Nuchal band usually joins a light lateral band extending from the supralabial scales and above the tympanum. Bands usually become indistinct with increasing size, especially on the tail, and are not or only faintly apparent on larger specimens, especially the Central lineage. Extensive further light flecks and blotches are also present between the bands, and elsewhere on the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the torso, limbs and tail. Larger specimens can be heavily mottled with equal amounts of light buff and brown, with no obvious transverse banding. Top of head usually with light to heavy pale mottling and a distinct to indistinct canthal stripe. Venter relatively plain light buff with a faint to distinct wash of light brown, particularly towards the lateral extremities and under head and limbs. Regrown tails dark brown and mottled with varying amounts of light flecking.
Hatchlings and juveniles lack light flecking and usually have a very simple pattern of sharply defined light bands separated by wide plain dark brown regions, and a thin white labial stripe. As specimens increase in size, the sharp definition of light and dark regions decreases, and the amount of light flecking and blotching across the body increases.
In life, adults possess base colouration of dark purplish-brown during the day, washed out grey at night; light bands and flecks tend to be light grey or buff in the Eastern population, but tend to be more yellow in Central population. Iris dark brown.
Particulars of syntypes. QM J226, female with original tail (in mm): SVL 88.0, HW 15.3, HD 9.8, HL 19.2, EN 6.6, IN 2.9, IO 6.9, EYE 4.4, TrK 39.3, ArmL 9.9, LegL 11.4, TL 66.0, TW 12.4, TD 9.8, 3FW 2.4, 3TW 2.7. Scales: RC 100%, SuL 9 (10), InF 12, CS 2/3, 3FL 8, 3TL 8.
AMS R5602, male with original tail: SVL 79.0, HW 15.8, HD 9.8, HL 18.5, EN 6.4, IN 2.7, IO 6.8, EYE 4.5, Trk 39.4, ArmL 10.5, LegL 12.2, TL 56.0, TW 11.0, TD 8.1, 3FW 2.2, 3TW 2.2. Scales: RC 100%, SuL 10(10), InF 12, CS 2/2, 3FL 7, 3TL 8, precloacal pores 23.
AMS R5603, male with original tail: SVL 78, HW 16.0, HD 9.7, HL 18.8, EN 6.8, IN 2.9, IO 7.3, EYE 4.6, TrK 39.1, ArmL 10.2, LegL 11.9, TL 62.0, TW 8.7, TD 9.0, 3FW 2.3, 3TW 2.7. Scales: RC 100%, SuL 11 (12), InF 12, CS 2/2, 3FL 8, 3TL 8, precloacal pores 11.
All three syntypes have original tails and completely divided rostrals. Colour pattern is greatly faded, although indistinct dark bands, blotches and flecks are faintly discernable to a varying extent across the dorsal surfaces of the head, torso and especially tail.
Distribution and habitat. The Eastern population occurs in woodlands throughout the channels and floodplains of the Cooper and Darling Basins in western Queensland and New South Wales. Apparently isolated populations occur from the northern Flinders Ranges and just north of the Murray River in South Australia (Fig. 2). Eastern animals are usually associated with exfoliating bark and hollows in small trees (both living and dead), especially Bulloaks in the genus Casuarina, but may also use rocks when available (Miller 1980; P.M. Oliver, pers. obs.; D. Armstrong, pers. comm.). In areas with a high density of suitable trees O. cincta can be abundant, and large numbers can be collected in small periods of time. Specimens have also been reported from under exfoliating rock in the Flinders Ranges (Miller 1980; D. Armstrong, pers. comm.).
The Central population is known from two apparently isolated subpopulations centred on the MacDonnell and Reynolds Ranges in the southern Northern Territory. The accuracy of an additional old record (Museum Victoria) from the Tennant Creek area requires verification through additional recent samples. Populations of this species from the Central Ranges are associated with gorges and other range country and are usually found while foraging on and around rock faces.
Comparisons. Oedura cincta is very similar the Western lineage (see below) and shares with that taxon a combination of moderately large size (average SVL> 90 mm SVL), moderately long tail which tends to be rounded in cross-section and not wider than the head, prominently flared subdigital lamellae series (on fingers 3 and 4 of equal or greater width to the apical lamellae) and dorsal pattern usually consisting of numerous poorlydefined light flecks and blotches, and often thin light bands. Oedura cincta, however, has a longer rostral crease (60–100% versus 25–60% of the rostral height in the Western lineage).
Oedura cincta can be specifically distinguished from lineages in the O. marmorata species complex from northern Australia by possessing a longer (TL/SVL 0.65–0.80 versus 0.53–0.63) and narrower tail (always narrower than the head), a longer body (Trk/SVL 0.42–0.53 versus 0.39–0.49), slightly wider apical lamellae (0.23–0.36 versus 0.21–0.31) and a distinctly flared subdigital lamellae series on fingers 3–4 wider than the apical pair (versus not wider).
Oedura cincta can be specifically distinguished from most other Oedura from eastern Australia by the presence of a subdigital lamellae series on digits 2–5 that is prominently expanded at its midpoint (versus tapering or slightly expanded), higher number of postcloacal tubercles per side (mode of 2 versus 1) and dorsal colour pattern consisting of 5–6 distinct to indistinct narrow light bands with poorly defined light flecking (versus wide pale transverse bands in O. castelnaui, distinct dark-edged ocelli or transverse bands of varying size in O. coggeri Bustard, 1966, O. monilis and O. tryoni de Vis, 1884, or two pale bands across the nape and base of tail in O. jowalbinna Hoskin & Higgie, 2008). Further distinguished from the Gulf lineage by larger body size (SVL 78–106 mm versus 64–92 mm), longer original tail (TL/SVL 0.58–0.79 versus 0.49–0.65), wider terminal lamellae and wider lamellae series on fingers (see details below).
description: Published as part of Oliver, Paul M. & Doughty, Paul, 2016, Systematic revision of the marbled velvet geckos (Oedura marmorata species complex, Diplodactylidae) from the Australian arid and semi-arid zones, pp. 151-176 in Zootaxa 4088 (2) on pages 162-165, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4088.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/258925