Nephrurus cinctus

Northern Banded Knob-tailed Gecko

Dark bands break up the outline of a rough-scaled little gecko.

Reference photo, not the individual on display. Credits appear below.

Care commitment Specialist setup

Habitat Ground & cover

Visiting Watch quietly

Meet your new acquaintance

Nickname Banded Night Walker

Nocturnal; uses ground and rocky cover

Species highlights

Rough scales and a tiny tail knob

NWC is a trace of the former name Nephrurus wheeleri cinctus; the page now follows Nephrurus cinctus.

Species recognition uses combinations of characters and sometimes genetic or geographic evidence, not one band or short tail. An older name does not automatically invalidate the observations published under it.

Linking scales, bands and tail shape with the complete name shows why taxonomy matters: it keeps records from different people and years connected to the right animal.

Feature sources:

Josh’s Frogs · Nephrurus cinctus (keeper observations)

At a glance

This banded knob-tailed gecko is treated as Nephrurus cinctus, associated with rocky areas in Western Australia. The keeper abbreviation NWC comes from its former name Nephrurus wheeleri cinctus, a reminder of its earlier subspecies treatment.

Stones, rubble and ground cover connect daytime shelter with nocturnal invertebrate hunting. Coarse scales and bands add more information than the tail knob alone.

Egg-laying and husbandry research appears under the former name Nephrurus wheeleri cinctus. Old observations can remain useful while species boundaries and names are revised; “NWC” carries that history rather than replacing the current name.

Common names Northern Banded Knob-tailed Gecko; NWC; Nephrurus wheeleri cinctus

Scientific name Nephrurus cinctus

Native rangeParts of Western Australia

Adult sizeAbout 8–10 cm snout-to-vent length; excludes the tail

ActivityNocturnal; uses ground and rocky cover

Diet Use varied, appropriately sized, gut-loaded insects with calcium and vitamins coordinated with diet and lighting. Adjust feeding using intake, condition and shedding records.

Habitat & care

Provide fixed rocks, secure ground hides and a locally moist retreat. Arrange the substrate for this species rather than copying every other knob-tail setup.

Values guide routine care, not breeding or brumation. Dimensions are length × width × height for one adult unless stated otherwise; larger animals need more space.

TemperatureLocal warm area About 32°C Cool air 21–27°C; separate the warm area from cooler retreats.

Humidity30–40% Measure relative humidity at the cool end; offer water and a moist retreat while keeping the main surface dry.

LightingGentle light & shade Provide a light cycle and cover; assess lighting and supplementation together.

Space90×45×45 cm Recommended starting size; provide warm and cool hides, water and unobstructed movement routes.

Look a little closer

Trace the dark cross-bands and compare the raised granular scales. Estimate the knob’s size relative to the short tail. As it emerges from a rock crevice, watch how the broad head, shoulders and trunk pass the opening in sequence.

Care note: Keep rockwork stable and provide a suitable sheltered microclimate.

About this profile

The current name is Nephrurus cinctus, formerly Nephrurus wheeleri cinctus; the abbreviation NWC derives from that former name.

Profile status: Reference profile · Reviewed 2026-10-20

References (5)

Photo: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Banded_knob-tailed_gecko_(Nephrurus_wheeleri_cinctus).jpg CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original image, credit and licence

Behaviour notes describe the species, not a promise about every individual. These care notes introduce its needs; ask our team about the animal on display and any supervised encounters.