It is believed that the distinctive short, broad tail of the fat-tailed Gecko serves as a food store in cold weather or when its prey is not plentiful. Like other ground-dwelling geckos, the colour of its back allows it to blend in with its habitat. It obtains most of the water it needs from the soft-bodied insects it captures during the night and from early morning dew on desert herbs.

Distribution of the Fat-tailed Gecko in Australia.