Phyllurus platurus
Silhouette: Jose Carlos Arenas-Monroy · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%
The broad-tailed gecko, southern leaf-tailed gecko, or Sydney leaf-tailed gecko (Phyllurus platurus) is a common gecko of the family Carphodactylidae found in the Sydney Basin. The species uses its mottled colour to camouflage against bark or rock, and if threatened can drop its large fleshy tail as a decoy. The tail is also useful for fat storage. This species of gecko is available in captivity as a pet, they are a nocturnal ambush hunter, relying on camouflage and patience to catch prey. Primary prey items include large nocturnal invertebrates such as spiders, cockroaches and beetles.
Snout to vent length of 9.5 cm. Total length up to 15 cm. Mottled brown in colour with low bumpy tubercules over the body, original tails are mottled the same colour as the body with large slightly spiny tubercules, whereas regenerated tails are chunkier mottled and smooth.
Common generally in the greater Sydney Basin area, north to Newcastle and south to the Illawarra. It mainly inhabits rocky areas including boulders, rock faces or small rock crevices, but can also naturally be found on trees including in areas with no immediate rocky habitat. The species can occupy... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sydney | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Entopia | 🇲🇾 Malaysia |
Possible
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Broad-tailed Gecko sighting in Royal National Park on a given day, based on 55 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 6th most-seen of the 37 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
November and December
In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Broad-tailed Gecko in Royal National Park on a given day, against under 5% in June, the lowest month.
Between 8 and 11 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Broad-tailed Gecko sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is seen both by day and at night.
Yes
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Broad-tailed Gecko sightings, Royal National Park has the highest daily chance: about 30%. Next come Blue Mountains National Park (Australia, about 30%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Broad-tailed Gecko is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Royal National Park (55 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
