[3] Widespread across the continent, the variable fat-tailed gecko is most commonly found in sandy desert habitats dominated by spinifex grasses.

[4] The variable fat-tailed gecko has a stout body, short limbs and a broad, flat tail of similar size to the head.

[4] Both male and female variable fat-tailed geckos possess paracloacal (parallel to the cloaca) spurs, small clusters of around 3-8 spines.

It is important to note that although present in both sexes, paracloacal spurs in females are rarely more than 50% larger than adjacent body scales.

[5] In addition to paracloacal spurs, a key identifying feature of the variable fat-tailed gecko is a lack of pre-anal pores.

[8] As a nocturnal species, the variable fat-tailed gecko seeks out warm places to shelter in during the day such as rocks, fallen trees and abandoned burrows of spiders and other lizards.

This dilemma is also contributed to by the difficulties often faced identifying this species correctly due to similarities with other diplodactylids.

[5] In captivity, the variable fat-tailed gecko has been observed to reach sexual maturity at 70-80% of adult SVL around 12–18 months of age.

[5] Natural predators of the variable fat-tailed gecko include birds of prey, snakes and other lizards.