Southern leaf-tailed gecko fact sheet – bayagin | Field of Mars EEC

What are southern leaf-tailed geckos?

Southern leaf-tailed geckos are secretive native reptiles that hide among rocks, bark and leaf litter in forests and bushland along eastern Australia. The species most often called the southern leaf-tailed gecko in the Sydney region is Phyllurus platurus, also known as the broad-tailed gecko or Sydney leaf-tailed gecko. The Darug name for southern leaf-tailed geckos is bayagin. These geckos are well known for their flattened, leaf-shaped tails and excellent camouflage.

Southern leaf-tailed geckos are nocturnal, which means they are active at night. During the day they shelter in rock crevices, beneath loose bark or inside cracks in old trees. Their mottled brown and grey colours help them blend into bark, sandstone and leaf litter, making them difficult to spot.

Unlike many geckos, southern leaf-tailed geckos do not have sticky toe pads for climbing smooth surfaces. Instead, they use sharp claws to grip rough bark and rocks. If threatened, they can drop their tail to distract predators and escape to safety.

A southern leaf-tailed gecko.

Southern leaf-tailed geckos are difficult to spot because their colours and patterns blend into bark and rock surfaces.

Where do southern leaf-tailed geckos live?

Southern leaf-tailed geckos live mainly in eastern New South Wales, especially across the Sydney Basin. They are commonly associated with sandstone habitats, rocky gullies, forests and woodland areas. These geckos spend much of their time hidden inside rock crevices, beneath bark or among fallen leaves where they are protected from predators and hot daytime temperatures.

Students visiting bushland areas such as Field of Mars Reserve or Lane Cove National Park are more likely to find signs of these geckos at night during warm weather. They may be seen climbing tree trunks, resting on sandstone walls or hunting near outdoor lights where insects gather.

Southern leaf-tailed geckos often shelter among sandstone rocks and forest leaf litter during the day.

What do southern leaf-tailed geckos eat?

Southern leaf-tailed geckos are carnivores that feed mostly on insects and other small invertebrates. Their diet includes moths, beetles, cockroaches, spiders and crickets. They are ambush predators, meaning they usually wait quietly for prey before quickly striking and catching it.

These geckos play an important role in controlling insect populations in bushland ecosystems. By feeding on nocturnal insects, they help keep ecosystems balanced and also become food for larger predators such as owls, snakes and mammals.

Southern leaf-tailed geckos hunt insects and spiders after dark.

What is the life cycle of southern leaf-tailed geckos?

Southern leaf-tailed geckos breed during the warmer months of the year. Females usually lay one or two soft-shelled eggs in moist sheltered places such as rock crevices, beneath bark or under leaf litter. The eggs are left hidden and protected while the young develop inside.

After hatching, young geckos are fully independent and begin hunting tiny insects within a short time. Juveniles gradually grow larger over several years before becoming adults. Like many reptiles, southern leaf-tailed geckos grow more slowly during colder winter months when activity levels decrease.

Gecko eggs hatch into young reptiles that must find food and shelter independently.

What adaptations do southern leaf-tailed geckos have to help them survive?

Southern leaf-tailed geckos have excellent camouflage that helps them blend into bark, rocks and leaf litter. Their flattened bodies and mottled patterns make them difficult for predators to detect during the day. Their broad tails look like dead leaves or pieces of bark, helping complete the disguise.

These geckos also have large eyes that help them see in low light while hunting at night. Strong claws allow them to grip rough surfaces such as sandstone and tree bark. If attacked, they can shed their tail to distract predators while escaping. Over time a new tail grows back, although it often looks different from the original.

Southern leaf-tailed geckos use sharp claws to grip rough vertical surfaces.

Why are southern leaf-tailed geckos important?

Southern leaf-tailed geckos are important predators in forest food webs. They help control populations of insects and other small invertebrates that live in bushland ecosystems. In turn, they provide food for snakes, birds and mammals. Healthy populations of geckos are part of balanced ecosystems.

These geckos are also important indicators of healthy bushland habitats. Because they rely on shelter such as old trees, sandstone crevices and leaf litter, their presence can show that native habitat is still supporting wildlife. Protecting bushland areas around Sydney helps protect species like the southern leaf-tailed gecko.

Southern leaf-tailed geckos are part of healthy sandstone forest food webs.

How can you help southern leaf-tailed geckos?

People can help southern leaf-tailed geckos by protecting bushland habitats and leaving natural shelter such as rocks, logs and leaf litter undisturbed. These places provide safe hiding spots and hunting areas for geckos and many other native animals.

Students can also help by staying on walking tracks in bushland areas, keeping cats indoors at night and reducing pesticide use around gardens and parks. Supporting native habitat restoration projects helps create healthier ecosystems for reptiles and other wildlife across Sydney.

Protecting bushland, rocks, logs and leaf litter helps southern leaf-tailed geckos survive.

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• Eastern blue-tongued lizard fact sheet – Compare another Sydney lizard that shelters in leaf litter and gardens.

• Red-bellied black snake fact sheet – Learn about a reptile predator found in bushland and wetland habitats.

Habitats and ecosystems

• Eucalypt forest fact sheet – Discover a bushland habitat with trees, bark, leaf litter and shelter for small animals.

• Field of Mars Reserve fact sheet – Learn about the local reserve where reptiles, frogs, birds and invertebrates live.

Animals that share this habitat

• Red-crowned toadlet fact sheet – Find out about another small animal linked to sandstone bushland habitat.

• Red triangle slug fact sheet – Learn about an invertebrate that also uses shaded bushland, logs, rocks and leaf litter.

Food webs and ecological relationships

• Insects fact sheet – Explore the insect prey that supports geckos and other predators.

• Spider fact sheet – Learn about arachnid predators and prey in bushland food webs.

• Wolf spider fact sheet – Compare another nocturnal predator found in leaf litter and ground habitats.

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