Strophurus spinula, commonly known as the lesser thorn-tailed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. It is endemic to Australia.

Quick Facts Strophurus spinula, Scientific classification ...

Strophurus spinula
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Diplodactylidae
Genus:	Strophurus
Species:	S. spinula
Binomial name
Strophurus spinula Sadlier, Beatson, Brennan & Bauer, 2023

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The specific name spinula is Latin for 'little thorn', referring to the fact that its tail spines are comparatively small (a feature distinguishing it from the Goldfields spiny-tailed gecko).^[1]

The lesser thorn-tailed gecko was originally assigned as a population of Strophurus assimilis (the Goldfields spiny-tailed gecko). However, a 2023 study using molecular evidence has found it to be a distinct parapatric species, thus it was described as a new species Strophurus spinula.^[1][2]

The lesser thorn-tailed gecko reaches a snout-vent length of 40.8 to 61.2 mm, with the tail being 47.8 to 64.8% of the SVL. Their body color is mostly grey, with darker markings on the dorsal surface and a wavy pattern on the dorsolateral edge. Enlarged tubercles are arranged in a pair of parallel lines running down dorsal surface on either side of the dorsal mid-line, often broken at regular intervals of length. In live specimens, the iris shows reticulated patterns and is surrounded by an orange-brown ring of color.^[1][3]

S. spinula is found in the southern areas of Western Australia. It mostly occurs in Mulga woodland, also appearing in mallee and shrublands with acacia & eucalyptus. One specimen was collected recorded from a saline alluvial plain with scattered haplophytic shrubland in Rosemont.^[1]