Notes on the Ecology and Natural History of the Rarely Recorded Gekkonid Lizard Heteronotia Binoei in the Great Victoria Desert of Western Australia

Ecological data on the uncommonly encountered terrestrial gecko Heteronotia binoei are presented and discussed. Although Heteronotia is widespread in Australia occurring in many different habitats, it is rarely found in semipristine desert habitats. Heteronotia is composed of a complex of both sexual and asexual populations which may help explain its rarity. Sex ratio is biased towards females. Heteronotia exploit burrows of other animals for shelter and daytime retreats. Compared to other species of desert lizards, Heteronotia is a dietary generalist with a relatively broad dietary niche. These geckos reproduce in the Austral spring and have fixed clutch sizes of two eggs. Relative clutch mass averaged 9.9%.