Oedura

Marbled Velvet Gecko

Oedura marmarata

Distribution: Northeast and Western Australia

Description: One of the largest and most impressive velvet geckos. At least two separate forms occur: one with a narrow, cylindrical tail and the other with a flatter tail. 5-6 bands on a darker purplish background. Some of the nicest individuals can possess good amounts of purple and yellow.

Robust Velvet Gecko

Oedura robusta

Distribution: Eastern Australia

Description: A long and more slender Oedura. Purplish grey with a variety of light colored splotches. Tail can become quite plump. Fairly fast for a gecko of this size. A very interesting captive!

Southern Spotted Velvet Gecko

Oedura tryoni

Distribution: Rocky areas of Eastern Australia

Description: A brown, yellow, and purple gecko covered with circular spots. Some spots may interconnect forming transverse bars. Some can be very light colored and appear ghostly.

Northern Velvet Gecko

Oedura castlenaui

Distribution: Rocky outcrops of Northeast Australia

Description: A fairly stocky gecko with a long, flat tail. Five thick bands are found across the back and an equal number on the tail. Colors include shades of black, yellow, and orange. Amelanistic, hypomelanistic, and patternless variants are available in the hobby.

Northern Spotted Velvet Gecko

Oedura coggeri

Distribution: Rocky areas in Cape York

Description: A medium-sized Oedura with a dorsally depressed tail. Their body and tail is covered with cream spots and bars. Typically yellow to orangish, many specimens are neon colored at night displaying bright yellows and purples! Our favorite velvet gecko.

Thirteen species of Velvet geckos make up the genus Oedura. They are small to moderate sized geckos with flat bodies and either long, cylindrical tails or flat and depressed tails. The ends of each of their toes are divided by a groove giving them an interesting fringed look. Their scales are uniform and smooth giving them a soft, velvety appearance. Many are arboreal although some find shelter in loose foliage and/or rocky crevices. The smaller species are suprisingly fast and can slip through even the smallest openings. Each speices is distinctly patterned and many are vibrantly colored. These geckos are simple to maintain and are very rewarding to keep!