Centralian knob-tailed gecko

The Centralian knob-tailed gecko is one of the largest and most striking geckos in Australia, instantly recognisable by its bulbous, bumpy tail which it uses for fat storage and as a defence mechanism.

Found in the arid, rocky deserts of Central Australia, this gecko thrives in some of the country's harshest conditions. Its reddish-brown colouring, speckled with cream or yellow, offers excellent camouflage against desert sand and stone.

Nocturnal by nature, these geckos emerge at night to hunt insects, spiders, and other small prey. They use their excellent eyesight and stealthy movements to stalk and strike with precision. During the day, they shelter in crevices or shallow burrows to escape the desert heat. If threatened, they will arch their backs, raise their tails, and emit raspy barks to intimidate predators—a surprisingly loud display from such a small creature.

Breeding occurs in the warmer months, with females laying a small clutch of soft-shelled eggs that are buried in moist sand or soil. The young are independent from birth and grow rapidly, shedding their skin frequently as they mature. While not endangered, their remote habitat means they are rarely seen by most people outside of herpetology circles.

The Centralian knob-tailed gecko’s tail is so specialised that if it’s dropped to escape a predator, it will regrow, but never quite the same shape as the original.