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Australian lizards are a diverse group distributed across the continent and inhabiting a wide range of environments. Together, they exhibit a remarkable diversity of reproductive morphologies, physiologies, and behaviours that is broadly representative of vertebrates in general. Many reproductive traits exhibited by Australian lizards have evolved independently in multiple lizard lineages, including sociality, complex signalling and mating systems, viviparity, and temperature-dependent sex determination. Australian lizards are thus outstanding model organisms for testing hypotheses about how reproductive traits function and evolve, and they provide an important basis of comparison with other animals that exhibit similar traits. We review how research on Australian lizard reproduction has contributed to answering broader evolutionary and ecological questions that apply to animals in general. We focus on reproductive traits, processes, and strategies that are important areas of current research, including behaviours and signalling involved in courtship; mechanisms involved in mating, egg production, and sperm competition; nesting and gestation; sex determination; and finally, birth in viviparous species. We use our review to identify important questions that emerge from an understanding of this body of research when considered holistically. Finally, we identify additional research questions within each topic that Australian lizards are well suited for reproductive biologists to address.

Vanderduys, Eric, Hoskin, Conrad J., Kutt, Alex S., Wright, Justin M., Zozaya, Stephen M. (2020): Beauty in the eye of the beholder: a new species of gecko (Diplodactylidae Lucasium) from inland north Queensland, Australia. Zootaxa 4877 (2): 291-310, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4877.2.4

Lucasium iris sp. nov. Gilbert Ground Gecko (Figures 3–6) Holotype: QM J96406, female, Gilberton Station, c. 100 km south of Georgetown, north Queensland, Australia (143°40’ E, 19°12’ S), collected by S.M. Zozaya, 9 April 2018. Paratypes: all collected within 4 km of the above location: QM J88147, subadult male collected by A. Kutt and E. Vanderduys, 12 October 2008; QM J95526, female collected by J.M. Wright and E. Vanderduys, 7 June 2015; QM J96407, male collected by S.M. Zozaya, 9 April 2018. None of the pre-existing specimens of Lucasium or Diplodactylus vittatus held at the Queensland Museum resembled L. iris sp. nov. Diagnosis. Lucasium iris sp. nov. is a large (adult SVL range 53.7–62.8 mm) Lucasium from central north Queensland, Australia (Figure 1). Lucasium iris sp. nov. is morphologically distinct from all other Lucasium and easily distinguished from congeners by the following set of characters: large size; moderately long and narrow tail (TL/SVL 0.73–0.79; TW/TL 0.10–0.11); nares in contact with rostral scale; dorsal and lateral body scales homogeneous; pattern consisting of a broad pale vertebral stripe running from the snout to the base of the tail, and bordered laterally by small pale spots; paired, enlarged apical lamellae present under all digits. Characters separating Lucasium iris sp. nov. from each Lucasium species and Diplodactylus vittatus Gray, 1832, to which it can look similar, are provided below in ‘Comparison with other species.’ Description. Holotype (Figures 3A, 4, 5): Details of morphometrics and scalation are presented in Table 1. Morphology: head distinct from neck. Snout rounded when viewed from above and from the side. Pupil vertical. Ear opening round. Trunk robust, c. 0.44 of the SVL. Limbs long and slender. Tail completely original; tapering gradually. Scalation: rostral scale rectangular, c. 2.5 times wider than deep, contacting the nares. Rostral with a medial crease 45% of its depth. Rostral bordered above by two enlarged internasal scales and these bordered above by three scales: two enlarged and one medial, slightly smaller, approximately hexagonal scale. Infralabial scales wider and deeper than supralabials; both arrays becoming progressively smaller towards the hinge of the jaw. Mental scale 1.2 times wider than long and would be an acute isosceles trapezoid, except for slightly concave sides where it contacts the first supralabial; bordered posteriorly by two slightly enlarged postmentals. General head and body scalation of small rounded granular scales; slightly larger on the throat and belly than dorsal surfaces, but otherwise approximately equal. Limb scalation similar to body scalation. Tail original, roughly cylindrical in cross section. Behind level of vent, tail scales arranged in c. 180 annuli, becoming disorganised a few scales from the tail tip. Tail scales otherwise similar to body scales. Scales on underside of all digits slightly enlarged and protuberant compared to adjacent scales; c. 14 from base of each 4 th toe to tip, but not including enlarged apical lamellae. Colour in life (Figures 3A, 4): Prominent cream to beige vertebral stripe from neck to base of tail, bordered by rich chocolate brown, fading laterally, c. 13–21 scales in width. Vertebral stripe has a discontinuous faint medial peppering of reddish-brown scales, and a patch of similarly coloured scales medially on the back of the head. An- teriorly, vertebral stripe expands to form a broad, pale crown over the top of the head, narrowing to a point at the nares, and bordered laterally by a distinct, broad, dark temporal and loreal stripe, which is a continuation of the dark dorsolateral ground colour. A scattering of small, pale, cream to lemon spots adjacent to the pale vertebral stripe, each typically occupying 2–4 scales, becoming inconspicuous on the lateral surfaces of the body. Brown dorsal colour fades towards the belly. Posteriorly, pale vertebral stripe continues onto tail base, becoming tinged with yellow just anterior to the vent; tail colour otherwise similar to trunk colour but with yellow tinge dorsally and laterally. Solid vertebral stripe becomes a broad messy, broken zigzag on tail, fading to poorly contrasting bands towards tail tip. Eye colour pale blue to silver, finely speckled with dark spots and with numerous brown to black reticulations. Supralabial scales peppered with minute very dark grey to black spots, usually encompassed by a pale ring separating them from a faint lemon background. Infralabials similar but less spotted anteriorly. Scales bordering upper half of eye tinged yellow. Limbs paler than dorsum, hind limbs with faint small spots. Belly, throat, undersides of legs, and tail immaculate. Feet and toes white; undersides of 3 rd and 4 th toes on hindlimbs tinged pale brown. Mouth lining pink. Colour and pattern in preservative (Figure 5): Pattern as in life. Colour similar to that in life but slightly faded. All traces of lemon and yellow colouration visible in life are lost. Paratypes. See Table 1 for morphometric and scalation data. Paratypes are very similar to the holotype, except that QM J96407 is a male and possesses a pair of precloacal pores. QM J88147 is substantially smaller than the other specimens, and appears to be a subadult, though we did not examine it internally for gonadal maturity. Colour in life (Figure 3 B–D): Dorsal colouration very similar to holotype, varying in number of pale spots on the lateral surfaces adjacent to the vertebral stripe. Spots more variable in size in QM J96407 and QM J95526, occupying 1–9 scales. Cloacal spurs pale lemon surrounded by an irregular ring of darker scales in QM J96407. Tail of QM J96407 similar to holotype, but with less consistent continuation of the vertebral stripe. Tail of QM J95526 mostly lacking consistent dorsal stripe, the pattern being broken into irregular blotches. Some dark speckling within the vertebral stripe in QM J95526. Colouration on lateral surfaces not fading as markedly in paratypes as in holotype, resulting in a greater contrast between the upper and lower flanks. Colouration of the belly, throat, and lower limbs similar to holotype. Irregular dark speckling on top of head more prominent on paratypes than holotype. Eye colour similar to holotype. Labial spots brown on QM J95526. Mouth lining pink. Subadult specimen QM J88147 similar to others but slightly darker (Figure 3D), possibly approaching slough, and with sutures between infralabials and supralabials dark brown. Colour and pattern in preservative: As with the holotype, colours and patterns are as in life but slightly faded and all traces of lemon and yellow colouration are lost. Variation. One genotyped but unvouchered individual (SMZ1327 [MT720720]; Figure 3E) paler than all other individuals with a faint peach-coloured, fully regenerated tail, and a zigzag border to the pale vertebral stripe. Another photographed but unsampled subadult individual (Figure 3F) has a tail pattern consisting of four irregular blotches with the appearance of paired ocelli. Etymology. The specific epithet iris is in reference to the goddess Iris in Greek mythology. Iris was the goddess of the rainbow and was beautiful. The association with this gecko is that it too is beautiful. The name is used as a noun in apposition. Informally, the name is also a reference to the beautiful iris of this species. The common name of Gilbert Ground Gecko is chosen because of its location in the Gilbert Range, its proximity to the Gilbert River, and in reference to Gilberton Station, where it occurs. Comparison with other species. Comparisons are presented in the order of: sympatric and geographically close congeners first, then all other congeners in alphabetical order, and finally a visually similar species (Diplodactylus vittatus) that occurs in the region. Descriptions and measurements of species other than L. iris sp. nov. are from the species descriptions referenced and Storr et al. (1990). From the sympatric Lucasium steindachneri (Figure 6B), L. iris sp. nov. is distinguished by larger size (L. steindachneri: c. 43 mm SVL; Boulenger 1885), nares in narrow contact with rostral scale (L. steindachneri: nares not contacting rostral), and colour and pattern (Lucasium steindachneri: usually a pink to reddish or orange-brown base colour, with the pale vertebral region often broken up into box-like patterns, which have given it the common name box-patterned gecko). From Lucasium immaculatum (Figure 6C), L. iris sp. nov. is distinguished by generally larger size (L. immaculatum: up to 54 mm; see discussion in Doughty 2015), nares in contact with rostral scale (L. immaculatum: nares not contacting rostral), and pattern (L. immaculatum: dorsal stripe narrower, usually with numerous lateral branches that sometimes break into pale spots and flecks). The two species are geographically separated by c. 150 km (this paper). From Lucasium stenodactylus (Boulenger, 1896), L. iris sp. nov. is distinguished by nares in narrow contact with rostral scale (L. stenodactylus: rarely in contact), and colour (L. stenodactylus: background colour red-brown to orange-brown; this paper). The two species are geographically separated by c. 300 km. From Lucasium alboguttatum (Werner, 1910), L. iris sp. nov. is distinguished by larger size (L. alboguttatum: up to 57 mm SVL; Storr et al. 1990), usually relatively shorter tail (L. alboguttatum: TL /SVL 0.78–1.06; Storr et al. 1990), and pattern (L. alboguttatum: an irregular pale mid-dorsal zone of blotches, bordered by large yellowish spots). The two species are geographically separated by c. 3,000 km. From Lucasium bungabinna, L. iris sp. nov. is distinguished by generally larger size (L. bungabinna: up to 56 mm SVL; Doughty & Hutchinson 2008), and colour (L. bungabinna: cream and red-brown to orange-brown). The two species are geographically separated by c. 1,700 km. From Lucasium byrnei (Lucas and Frost, 1896), L. iris sp. nov. is distinguished by larger size (L. byrnei: up to 56.5 mm SVL; Kluge 1967), pattern (L. byrnei: usually four irregular pale patches on the dorsal surface, often marked with dark spots occupying single scales), and dorsal and lateral scales homogeneous (L. byrnei: scales heterogeneous, numerous small conical tubercles present; Lucas & Frost 1896). The two species are geographically separated by c. 500 km. From Lucasium damaeum (Lucas & Frost, 1896), L. iris sp. nov. is distinguished by larger size (L. damaeum: up to 55 mm SVL; Kluge 1967), larger apical lamellae (L. damaeum: not enlarged), and pattern (L. damaeum: usually large lateral pale spots). The two species are geographically separated by c. 550 km. From Lucasium maini (Kluge, 1962), L. iris sp. nov. is distinguished by larger size (L. maini: up to 49 mm SVL; Kluge 1967), larger apical lamellae (L. maini: not, or only slightly, enlarged; Kluge 1962, 1967), and pattern (L. maini: an irregular pale mid-dorsal zone of blotches, bordered by large white spots that are paler than the mid-dorsal zone). The two species are geographically separated by c. 2,000 km. From Lucasium occultum, L. iris sp. nov. is distinguished by larger size (L. occultum: c. 40–41 mm SVL; King et al. 1982; Wilson & Swan 2017), and pattern (L. occultum: four irregular pale greyish patches on the dorsal surface each roughly rectangular). The two species are geographically separated by c. 1,400 km. From Lucasium squarrosum (Kluge, 1962), L. iris sp. nov. is distinguished by generally larger size (L. squarrosum: up to 57 mm SVL; Storr et al. 1990), and pattern (L. squarrosum: a zigzag or irregularly bordered vertebral stripe, bordered below by large pale spots). The two species are geographically separated by c. 2,200 km. From Lucasium wombeyi (Storr, 1978), L. iris sp. nov. is distinguished by larger size (L. wombeyi: up to 54 mm SVL; Storr et al. 1990), and pattern (L. wombeyi: irregular, large, pale dorsal and lateral blotches often enclosing smaller yellowish spots). The two species are geographically separated by c. 2,300 km. Features to distinguish L. iris sp. nov. from Diplodactylus vittatus (Figure 6D) are presented here because of their relatively close geographic proximity (c. 50 km; see Discussion). From D. vittatus, L. iris sp. nov. is distinguished by generally larger size (D. vittatus: up to c. 56 mm SVL; this paper), longer, narrower tail (D. vittatus: TL / SVL 0.40–0.59; TW/TL 0.26–0.37; this paper), and the presence of precloacal pores in males (D. vittatus: absent). Distribution, habitat, and conservation status. Lucasium iris sp. nov. is known from a small area, c. 100 km south of Georgetown (Figure 1). The distribution falls on the boundary of the Kidston province of the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion and the Gilberton Plateau province of the Gulf Plains bioregion (Sattler & Williams 1999). Lucasium iris sp. nov. occurs in low rocky hills with many small escarpments, talus slopes, and washout areas. Individuals have been encountered foraging on the ground at night (n = 7) and sitting at the entrance of a narrow burrow with just the head protruding (n = 3). Foraging at night after emerging from burrows is typical for Lucasium (the authors, pers. obs.; King & Horner 1993; Cogger 2014; Wilson & Swan 2017). This suggests its behaviour and habitat are similar to its congeners. The vegetation at sites where most L. iris sp. nov. were found is dominated by Acacia shirleyi, Eucalyptus and Corymbia spp. woodlands, often with sparse Melaleuca citrolens, generally over Triodia spp. hummocks (Figure 7). This conforms to Regional Ecosystem 2.10.5, which is: Acacia shirleyi woodland over bare ground, annuals and Triodia pungens. Occurs on plateau surfaces and margins on Mesozoic sandstones; skeletal soils and rock outcrops. The remainder were found in habitats mapped as, and conforming to, RE 9.11.28, which is: Woodland to open forest of Acacia shirleyi (lancewood) +/- Eucalyptus microneura (Georgetown box) +/- E. crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) (sens. lat.). The shrub layer is generally absent to mid-dense, though areas of Melaleuca citrolens (scrub teatree) with emergents of the above canopy taxa may occur. Occurs on undulating hills and rises and on metamorphosed sandstone outcrops. and 9.11.16, which is: Woodland to open woodland of Eucalyptus crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) +/- Corymbia erythrophloia (red bloodwood) or C. pocillum +/- Corymbia spp. A sub-canopy layer of canopy species, Terminalia aridicola (arid peach) and/or Erythroxylum ellipticum (kerosene wood) may be present. The shrub layer varies from isolated plants to mid-dense and can include Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush), Vachellia bidwillii (corkwood wattle), Petalostigma spp., Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood), Bursaria incana (prickly pine) and other Acacia spp. The ground layer is grassy and dominated by Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) and/or Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass). Occurs on red to brown soils derived from metamorphic geologies on steep to rolling hills. At all sites, the vegetation was interspersed with bare, rocky ground, areas of accumulated leaf litter, and fallen woody debris. None of the L. iris sp. nov. records are from a protected area, but the species probably occurs in Rungulla National Park. The species is not known from similar habitat in Blackbraes National Park, 46 km to the south-east (Figure 1), despite extensive fauna (including reptile) surveys there (Vanderduys et al. 2012a; authors, unubl. data). Areas mapped as the same REs from which Lucasium iris sp. nov. has been recorded occur beyond the immediate vicinity of its known locations in three areas: 1. Rungulla National Park, which is 3 km southwest of known locations (Figure 1); 2. to the east around the Gilbert River and the Gilbert Range; and 3. c. 20 km to the north-west in the Gregory Range, in the vicinity of the Gilbert and Robertson Rivers. Rungulla National Park requires detailed reptile surveys but the other two areas have been extensively surveyed without demonstrating the presence of L. iris sp. nov. (the authors, unpubl. data; Vanderduys et al. 2012a, 2012b; Couper et al. 2016; Bourke et al. 2017; Hoskin et al. 2018). Area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) may be estimated using “known, inferred or project- ed sites of present occurrences” (IUCN 2001, 2019). We estimated AOO and EOO for Lucasium iris sp. nov. based on the habitat at known locations and the underlying RE mapping. We did not include similar habitats on sandstone or metamorphic geology from areas 2 and 3 listed above because of the inferred absence of Lucasium iris sp. nov. from them, based on surveys. We restricted our calculations to the eastern part of the Gregory Range and mostly north of the Gilbert River (Figure 1). The likely AOO based on this habitat is c. 2,700 km 2, and EOO c. 3,000 km 2. Within the EOO, the actual mapped area of the three REs that records have come from is 1,430 km 2. Although the EOO is less than a threshold in the IUCN category B1 (Lucasium iris sp. nov. fits any IUCN threatened category. An unresolved threat is fire, explored in the Discussion. Sympatric geckos. Lucasium iris sp. nov. is known to co-occur with two other predominantly ground-dwelling diplodactylid geckos: L. steindachneri and Diplodactylus platyurus Parker, 1926. Differentiation of L. iris sp. nov. from L. steindachneri is dealt with above. In addition, though we did not measure sympatric L. steindachneri in the field, L. iris sp. nov. generally appears larger and slightly more robust than L. steindachneri (the

Gehyra Gray, 1834 Type species��� Gehyra pacifica Gray, 1834 (= Gecko oceanica (Lesson, 1830)), by monotypy., Published as part of Zozaya, Stephen M., Fenker, J��ssica & Macdonald, Stewart L., 2019, A new species of rock-dwelling gecko (Gekkonidae: Gehyra) from the Mt Surprise region of northern Queensland, Australia, pp. 503-518 in Zootaxa 4688 (4) on page 508, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4688.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/3517674, {"references":["Gray, J. E. (1834) Characters of two new genera of reptiles (Geomyda and Gehyra). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1834, 99 - 100.","Lesson, R. P. (1830) Description de Quelques Reptiles Nouveaux ou Peu Connus. In: Bertrand, A. (Ed.), Duperrey, M. L. I., Voyage Autour du Monde Execute par Ordre du Roi, sur la Corvette de La Majeste, La Coquille, execute Pendant les Annees 1822, 1823, 1824 et 1825, Zoologie, pp. 1 - 65."]}

Oedura argentea sp. nov. Silver-eyed velvet gecko (Figs. 1���5) Material examined. Holotype. QM J96296, male, Cobbold Gorge, Robin Hood Station (18��48'56" S, 143��24'25" E; 320 m elevation), collected by C. J. Hoskin, 14 September 2013. Paratypes. Cobbold Gorge, Robin Hood Station (18��48'58" S, 143��24'25" E): QM J96297, female; QM J96301, juvenile female; QM J96302, male; QM J88140, male; QM J88141, female. Littleton National Park (18��13'33" S, 142��44'52" E): QM J88195, female. 23.9 km E Croydon via Gulf Hwy (approximate coordinates 18��13' S, 142��26' E): AMS R63690, male; AMS R63691, female. Donkey Springs, Bulleringa National Park (17��35'13" S, 143��48'47" E): QM J74565, female. Additional material. An additional 32 individuals were examined and/or photographed in life to assess colour pattern: twenty from Cobbold Gorge (18��49' S, 143��24' E), three from Littleton National Park (18��13' S, 142��43' E), and nine from Gilberton Station (18��12' S, 143��49' E). Prior to release, 14 of these additional individuals were measured for SVL, of which seven were adult males examined to count the number of pre-cloacal pores. Diagnosis. Oedura argentea sp. nov. is a relatively small (SVL 61���80 mm) species of Oedura with a relatively wide (HW/SVL = 0.19���0.20) and flat (HD/SVL = 0.10���0.13) head; rostral scale only partially divided by medial vertical groove; iris silvery with reticulated golden-brown venation; tail moderately short (original TL/SVL = 0.64���0.77; regenerated TL/SVL = 0.51���0.66), narrow (original TW/TL = 0.13���0.18; regenerated TW/TL = 0.18��� 0.24) and circular in cross-section; adult colouration consisting of 5���6 (usually 5) dark-edged, relatively straight, pale bands from the neck to pelvis, separated by mottled purplish-grey and yellow interspaces; backswept pale nuchal band continuous with pale line along the mouth to the snout; single cloacal spur on each side; 14���22 precloacal pores in adult males. Etymology. From the Latin adjective argenteus, meaning silver or silvery, in reference to the silvery iris of this species, which is unique among eastern Australian Oedura. The name is used here as an adjective in its feminine form. Measurements and scalation of holotype (Figs. 1���2). QM J96296 (male) SVL = 67.4 mm; T = 46.1 mm (original); TW = 6.1 mm; TD = 5 mm; HL = 16.7 mm; HW = 12.7 mm; HD = 6.7 mm; S = 6.6 mm; EN = 6; EE = 6.74 mm; IN = 2.2 mm; IO = 5.9 mm; EYE = 3.3 mm; NL = 15.3 mm; AG = 28.8 mm; FL = 8.8 mm; HLL = 9.9 mm; 19 interorbital scales; 2 scales contacting dorsal edge of rostral; rostral crease 50% of rostral depth; 6 scales bordering nostril; 12 supralabials; 11 infralabials; 1 scale bordering posterior edge of mental; cloacal spurs 1/1; 17 pre-cloacal pores (8 left, 9 right) separated medially by a single granular scale; lamellae = 8 for all toes; lamellae 3rd finger = 8. Description of type series (Fig. 2). Data presented as range followed by mean in brackets. Measurements (mm). SVL = 61.8���80.1 (70.0); T(original) = 41.9���49.3 (45.6); T(regenerated) = 35.5���52.5 (45.2); TW = 6.1���8.8 (8.0); TD = 4.9���6.8 (5.9); HL = 15.8���18.7 (17.4); HW = 12.2���14.3 (13.5); HD = 6.3���9.6 (7.9); S = 5.9���8.4 (7.3); EN = 6.1���7.1 (6.5); EE = 6.1���8.2 (7.0); IN = 2.2���2.9 (2.6); IO = 5.4���6.9 (6.1); EYE = 3.2���4.0 (3.6); NL = 10.7��� 18.5 (15.8); AG = 26.8���34.3 (31.2); FL = 7.5���9.2 (8.7); HLL = 9.6���11.0 (10.3). Head. Distinct from neck, relatively narrow (HW/SVL = 0.19���0.20), moderately depressed (HD/SVL = 0.10���0.13), and covered in small granular scales that are largest on the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the snout; interorbital counts 17���21 (18.8); rostral scale approximately twice as wide as deep, divided 30���50% (mean 36%) vertically by a medial groove; rostral contacting nostril, bordered by 2 scales along its dorsal edge, and bordered laterally on each side by the first supralabial scales; 6 scales contacting nostril; supralabials 11���13 (11.4); first supralabial narrower than second supralabial; infralabials 9���12 (10.3); enlarged granular scales extending back from mental scale, decreasing in size towards small ventral scales; ear opening small and diagonally or horizontally elongate. Body. Moderately robust (AG/SVL 0.42���0.47), slightly depressed, covered in small granular scales; scales on ventral surface about the same size as those on dorsum; scales on lateral and dorsolateral surfaces arranged in transverse rows; 1 enlarged cloacal spur behind the lower posterior margin of the thigh in both sexes, typically more well-defined in males; row of 14��� 20 (17) pre-cloacal pores in mature males divided medially by 1���2 granular scales, extending to underside of thigh; pre-cloacal pores not evident in females. Limbs. Moderately long (FL/SVL = 0.12���0.14; HLL /SVL = 0.14���0.15); digits dorsoventrally compressed and expanded distally, each with an enlarged pair of apical lamellae followed by a transverse series of lamellae that are divided distally and single proximally; apical pair of lamellae discontinuous with other lamellae; hindlimb with 5���8 (6.3) enlarged lamellae (including apical pair) on 1 st toe, 6���8 (6.9) on 2nd toe, 8 on 3rd toe, 7���9 (8.0) on 4th toe and 6���9 (7.2) on 5th toe; forelimb with 6���8 (7.6) enlarged lamellae (including apical pair) on 3rd finger. Original tail. Moderately short (original TL/SVL = 0.64���0.77; regenerated TL/SVL = 0.51���0.66), relatively narrow (original TW/TL = 0.13���0.18; regenerated TW/TL = 0.18���0.24), and tapered; scales arranged in concentric rings, about the same size on the dorsal and on ventral surfaces. Colouration in spirit. Dorsal pattern consists of 5 (N = 9; Gregory Range specimens) or 6 (N = 1; QM J74565, Bulleringa National Park) distinct transverse pale cream bands from the neck to pelvis (i.e., dorsally between the hindlimbs), with a background colour of mottled brownish-grey and cream-brown between the bands. The external margins to each pale cream band is darker brownish-grey, with the cream-brown mottling often arranged transversely, resulting in indistinct cream-brown bands within the brownish-grey interspaces. The pale cream bands are mottled within by indistinct brownish-grey mottling that also tends to form obscure transverse medial bands. Bands along the dorsum are generally straight-edged and do not become significantly narrower on the flanks. Patterning terminates on the lower flanks, giving way to a pale cream ventral surface with dark stippling on the lateral edges. In the juvenile specimen (QM J96301) the pale bands and dark interspaces are less mottled and more starkly defined. Distinct, pale nuchal band sweeps forward unbroken to the snout enclosing ear and running along jaw and labials; bordered on top by a dark band from snout, through eye, and around the back of the head. Top of head cream-brown, mottled with brownish-grey. The area above each eye is blue-grey. Infralabials with dark stippling forming blotches or bars along length of lower jaw and chin, becoming less distinct on the throat. Limbs mottled brownish-grey and creambrown, similar to dorsal background colour. Ventral surfaces of limbs lighter cream with dark stippling. Tail consists of an alternating series of pale and dark bands of varying definition, typically forming 5���6 broad pale bands with dark blotching, each followed by dark bands with pale blotching or narrow bars. Banding disappears on ventral surfaces of tail, replaced by cream background colour with brownish-grey mottling and flecks. Cloacal spur white. Colouration in life (Figs. 1, 3���5). Dorsal pattern consists of five well-defined, broad, grey-white bands from the back of the neck to the pelvis, on a background colour of mottled purplish-grey and yellow. The pale bands often have grey mottling within them (particularly medially) and are often thinly bordered within by yellow scales. The proportion of purplish-grey and yellow in the background colour varies considerably, with some individuals possessing relatively little yellow (Fig. 3C) and others dominated almost entirely by yellow (Fig. 3D). The purplish-grey background colour is always more pronounced along the edges of the pale bands, particularly dorsally. Tail consists of an alternating series of white, purplish-grey, and yellow bands of varying definition, typically forming 5���6 broad whitish bands enclosing dark blotching or bars, each followed by a darker band with varying degrees of yellow and purplish-grey mottling. The pale bands on the tail are typically lighter than those on the back. Patterning is otherwise similar to specimens in spirit. The iris is silver with reticulated golden-brown venations that can give the eye a gold-and-silver appearance when viewed from further away (Fig. 3B). SVL and pre-cloacal pore counts in life. SVL 62���74 (68.7) mm; pre-cloacal pores 17���22, separated medially by 1���3 granular scales. Comparison with other species (Figs. 4���5). Oedura argentea sp. nov. differs from O. castelnaui, with which it is widely sympatric, by its smaller size (SVL 63���80 mm versus 81���95 mm), relatively wider head (HW/SVL = 0.19���0.20 versus 0.16���0.18), narrower tail (often relatively wide and carrot-shaped in O. castelnaui), and in possessing relatively straight transverse pale bands that do not become significantly narrower on the flanks (versus backwards sweeping, V-shaped pale bands that often narrow toward the flanks; Fig. 4). It is easily distinguished from O. coggeri (Fig. 5E), O. jowalbinna, O. monilis (Fig. 5F), and O. tryoni by its pattern consisting of 5���6 dark-edged, transverse pale bands from the neck to pelvis (versus pale ocelli and occasionally transverse bands or blotches in O. coggeri, O. monilis, and O. tryoni, or neck and pelvis band but patternless back in O. jowalbinna). Colour pattern is most similar to members of the O. marmorata group. Differs from O. bella (Fig. 5C), O. marmorata, and O. gemmata in possessing only a single cloacal spur (versus 2���3), and further differs from O. marmorata and O. gemmata by its narrow tail that is circular in cross-section and never wider than the head (versus flattened and approaching or exceeding head width). Differs from O. cincta (Fig. 5D) and O. fimbria in possessing only a single post-cloacal tubercle (versus up to 4), by its smaller adult size (SVL 61���80 mm versus 78���108 mm in O. cincta and 71���104 mm in O. fimbria), and further differs from O. cincta by its partially divided rostral scale (versus usually fully divided). It also differs from these two species in retaining a well-defined dark-edged banded pattern throughout adulthood (versus usually but not always becoming indistinct in large adults). Differs from O. luritja by its smaller adult size (SVL 61���80 mm versus 85���99 mm), its deeper head (HD/SVL = 0.10���0.13 versus 0.07���0.09), possessing a backswept pale nuchal band (bordered on top by a distinct dark postorbital band) that is continuous from the mouth over the back of the head and neck (versus pale nuchal band not continuous with the pale line along mouth), and in possessing a higher number of pre-cloacal pores in adult males (14���22 versus 10���16). Additionally, in life, the pale bands of O. luritja are yellowish (Fig. 5B), whereas in O. argentea sp. nov. the pale bands are whitish-grey. Differs from O. gracilis by its much shorter tail (versus very long and narrow, approaching length of the body), its whitish-grey bands (versus yellowish), and by its flared proximal lamellae on toes 2���5 that approach the width of the apical plates (versus narrow and tapering). Differs from O. filicipoda and O. murrumanu by its much smaller adult size (SVL 61���80 mm versus 85���105 mm) and in possessing a distinct backswept whitish nuchal band (bordered on top by a dark post-orbital band) that is continuous from the mouth through the ear and over the back of the head (sometimes present in O. murrumanu but cream coloured, and post-orbital band weakly defined). Further distinguished from O. filicipoda by its narrow tail that is circular in cross-section and not wider than the head (versus wider and flattened). Distribution. Currently known only from sandstone outcropping of the Gregory Range and the Bulleringa area in central-north Queensland, Australia (Fig. 6). The species has been recorded from four sites: Gilberton Station, Cobbold Gorge, Littleton National Park, and Donkey Springs in Bulleringa National Park (Fig. 6). Further searches will likely find this species elsewhere in the sandstone formations of the region. The Gilberton and Cobbold Gorge sites fall within the Hampstead Sandstone Formation and the Littleton and Bulleringa sites falls within the Gilbert Sandstone Formation. Ecology. Oedura argentea sp. nov. is restricted to sandstone outcrops and escarpments (Fig. 7). Individuals are typically found at night foraging on sandstone cliff faces and pavements but have also been found at night on nearby vegetation, particularly small, thin trees. We have observed them emerging from narrow rock crevices at dusk. Localities were mapped into Queensland���s Regional Ecosystem mapping framework (Queensland Herbarium, 2016) to identify the underlying Regional Ecosystem (RE). The Cobbold Gorge individuals were all found on sandstone in a vegetation community mapped as RE 9.10.1c. The Littleton National Park individuals were located on sandstone within RE 9.11.30 a. The Gilberton Station individuals were located on sandstone within areas mapped as RE 9.12.11. The Bulleringa National Park specimen was collected from sandstone within an area mapped as RE 2.10.2 and RE 2.10.5. As a coarse summary, all these REs are open Eucalyptus and Acacia woodland, with a ground layer of exposed rock, bare ground, and spinifex (Triodia). Genetics. ND4 mtDNA sequence data indicates O. argentea sp. nov. is sister to the clade containing O. castelnaui (mean pairwise divergence 17%) and O. coggeri (mean pairwise divergence 15%). The two O. argentea sp. nov. sequences from Cobbold Gorge are very similar (O. argentea sp. nov. as a distinct species within the ��� tryoni group���. Genbank accession numbers for these sequences are: MH899070 ��� MH899072., Published as part of Hoskin, Conrad J., Zozaya, Stephen M. & Vanderduys, Eric, 2018, A new species of velvet gecko (Diplodactylidae: Oedura) from sandstone habitats of inland north Queensland, Australia, pp. 101-114 in Zootaxa 4486 (2) on pages 104-109, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4486.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1436654