Ancient gecko shines light on Australian desert origins

The gecko lives in popular tourist sites such as Kings Canyon and Palm Valley, and had been confused with other similar-looking species. Researchers have discovered an ancient species of gecko in the ranges of Central Australia which may shine new light on how and when Australia's deserts began to form millions of year ago. Lead researcher Dr Paul Oliver from ANU said the velvet gecko Oedura luritja from the iconic ranges of Central Australia had been hiding in plain sight. "The gecko lives in popular tourist sites such as Kings Canyon and Palm Valley, and had been confused with other similar-looking species," said Dr Oliver from the ANU Research School of Biology. He said genetics indicated this gecko had no close living relatives. "We estimate Oedura luritja separated from all living relatives about 10 million years ago. This corresponds well with other evidence that deserts were expanding across Australia at this time," Dr Oliver said.  "Many plants and animals have isolated populations in the ranges of Central Australia, but recent work has revealed that these species are closely related to or the same as species living elsewhere in Australia - in some cases may have actually been moved there by people." Dr Oliver said the Oedura luritja gecko told a very different story.