Australian diplodactyline geckos are the only extant squamate group thought to have been in Australia before its separation from other east Gondwanan landmasses.

D. tessellatus is thought to have speciated from Diplodactylus vittatus between 12 and 20 million years ago during the Miocene Epoch of the Neogene period.

In Kinchega National Park from 1985 to 1987 the life history and population ecology of the tessellated gecko was studied by Klaus Henle.

During the day it may be found resting in habitats such as ground cracks, abandoned spider holes, crevices, under debris or fallen timber which all provide a camouflage from predation.

The tessellated gecko will on average produce clutches of 2 eggs with an incubation period of around 50–60 days if under the right temperature conditions of around 28 degrees.

Under favourable phenological conditions such as abundant food availability and stable climate, a healthy female can produce up to two clutches without any detrimental harm to her own fitness.

Exotic feral animals such as cats can have a negative effect on terrestrial geckos with mortality rates often correlating with predation at night.