# Christinus

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"Marbled gecko" redirects here. For a different species with this name, see [Oedodera](/source/Oedodera).

***Christinus*** is a genus of [Gekkonidae](/source/Gekkonidae) geckos found in southern regions of [Australia](/source/Australia). It contains species and subspecies that are regionally termed as **marbled geckos**. The contrasted patterns of these geckos, marbling, are found in a variety of reddish-brown, grey, silver, white, black and purplish hues. They are frequently found in old knotted trees and sometimes congregate in large numbers in established urban environments.[1]

The genus was named for Christine Biggs, a friend of one of the authors.[2]

## Classification

*Christinus* was first described by Wells and Wellington in 1984,[3] giving the types species as that published as *Diplodactylus marmoratus* Gray 1845. Their later proposal to establish a genus *[Ridegekko](/source/Ridegekko)*, based on Boulenger's original description of *Phyllodactylus guentheri* (*C. guentheri*), is not given in later literature. The genus has been described as containing two species, the island population and the widespread southern population.[4] The latter, *C. marmoratus*, has two or more subspecies in its distribution range. One proposed subspecies, *Christinus marmoratus alexanderi* [Storr](/source/Glen_Storr), has been elevated by some authorities to the rank of species.[1][5][6]

## Species

- *[C. alexanderi](/source/Christinus_alexanderi)* (endemic to [Nullarbor Plain](/source/Nullarbor_Plain))
- *[C. guentheri](/source/Christinus_guentheri)*, ([Lord Howe](/source/Lord_Howe_Island) and [Norfolk Island](/source/Norfolk_Island))
- *[C. marmoratus](/source/Christinus_marmoratus)*, (widespread: southern mainland, northwest interior, islands) - *C. m. macrodactylus* - *C. m. marmoratus*

## References

1. Browne-Cooper, Robert; Brian Bush; Brad Maryan; David Robinson (2007). *Reptiles and Frogs in the Bush: Southwestern Australia*. [University of Western Australia](/source/University_of_Western_Australia) Press. pp. 108, 109. ISBN 978-1-920694-74-6.

1. Wells, Richard. ["Etymology of Wells and Wellington Names"](https://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=976924,976924). *Taxonomy discussion*. kingsnake.com.

1. Wells, R.W. & Wellington, C.R. 1984. A synopsis of the class Reptilia in Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology 1(3-4): 73–129 [1983 on title page]

1. ["*Christinus*"](http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/search.php?submit=Search&genus=Christinus). *Reptiles Database*. J. Craig Venter Institute. Retrieved 2009-01-26.

1. Donnellan, S. C., Aplin, K. P. and Dempsey, P. J. (2000). Genetic and morphological variation in Australian Christinus (Squamata : Gekkonidae): preliminary overview with recognition of a cryptic species on the Nullarbor Plain. Australian Journal of Zoology 48, 289–315.

1. Greer, A.E. 2006. [Encyclopedia of Australian Reptiles.](http://www.austmus.gov.au/herpetology/research/pdf/gekkonidae.pdf) Australian Museum Online Version date: 7 August 2006

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