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Griffing AH, Daza JD, Nielsen SV, Werneck FP, Viana PF, Gamble T. Toe pad morphology and adhesion in the miniaturized gecko, Chatogekko amazonicus (Gekkota: Sphaerodactylidae). Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2024. [PMID: 38803286 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Chatogekko amazonicus is a miniaturized gecko from northern South America and is among the smallest of toe pad bearing lizards. The toe pads of C. amazonicus are miniscule, between 18% and 27% of the plantar surface area. We aimed to investigate the relationship between adhesive toe pad morphology, body size, and adhesive capabilities. Using scanning electron microscopy, we determine that the adhesive pads of C. amazonicus exhibit branched setae similar to those of other geckos, but that are generally much smaller. When compared with other gecko taxa, we show that C. amazonicus setae occupy a similar range of seta length: snout-vent length ratio and aspect ratio as other gekkonoid species (i.e. Gekkonidae, Phyllodactylidae, and Sphaerodactylidae). We demonstrate that C. amazonicus-even with its relatively small toe pads-is capable of climbing a smooth glass surface at a nearly vertical angle. We suggest that sphaerodactylids like C. amazonicus offer an excellent system for studying toe pad morphology and function in relation to miniaturization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron H Griffing
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
- Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Juan D Daza
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas, USA
| | - Stuart V Nielsen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Fernanda P Werneck
- Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Programa de Coleções Científicas Biológicas, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Patrik F Viana
- Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Laboratório de Genética Animal, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Tony Gamble
- Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
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Lobón-Rovira J, Conradie W, Iglesias DB, Ernst R, Veríssimo L, Baptista N, Pinto PV. Between sand, rocks and branches: an integrative taxonomic revision of Angolan Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820, with description of four new species. VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/vz.71.e64781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The taxonomy of Angolan Hemidactylus has recently been revised. However, the lack of fresh material for some groups and regions, has led to the misidentification of some taxa and an underestimation of actual diversity in others. To shed light on the evolutionary history and systematics of Angolan Hemidactylus, we generated a new phylogenetic hypothesis for the group, and updated the taxonomy following an integrative approach. This resulted in the description of four new species (H. pfindaensissp. nov., H. faustussp. nov., H. carivoensissp. nov. and H. cinganjisp. nov.), the reevaluation of two recently described species (H. vernayi and H. paivae) and the synonymization of a recently described species (H. hannahsabinnae). We estimate divergence times for these lineages, providing a preliminary interpretation of their speciation process. Moreover, we suggest and outline 13 Angolan Main Biogeographic Units (AMBUs) in the area, defining a new biogeographic context for future works on Angolan herpetofauna. We now recognize eleven Hemidactylus species in Angola, and we provide here a new morphological key for Angolan Hemidactylus to help with identifications and species assignments in this group.
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