Why do geckos group? An analysis of "social" aggregations in two species of Australian lizards

Abstract

Although reptiles of many species are often found in aggregations within retreat sites, there is little quantitative information on the size and composition of such aggregations. Such data may clarify the processes that stimulate aggregation, and that determine patterns of co-occurrence of individuals with respect to sex and body size. We gathered data on diurnal aggregations (under rocks) of two species of nocturnally-active gekkonid lizards (the gekkonine Christinus marmoratus and the diplodactyline Nephrurus milii) from two widely-separated localities in southern Australia (central Victoria and an island off the southern coast of Western Australia). Both species occurred at these localiti..