An assessment of thermal preference of two species of Knob-tailed Geckos, Nephrurus levis and N. laevissimus, at Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park

Nocturnal lizards are often active at temperatures that are sub-optimal for physiological functioning, a phenomenon that has been referred to as the 'nocturnal paradox'. The purpose of this study was to investigate the general habitat and thermal preference of two species of nocturnal gecko in the genus Nephrurus with a focus on differences between preferred body temperatures determined under laboratory conditions and those measured in animals at the time of field collection. The Smooth Knob-tailed gecko (Nephrurus levis) and the Pale Knob-tailed Gecko (N. /aevissimus) inhabit the desert environment of Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory of Australia.