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Development of the gecko Hemidactylos

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Press release,

Gekkos are a speciose and ecologically diverse group which are renown for their ability to walk on walls and ceilings and even upside down. This ability has been linked with the presence of adhesive toepads in this group. „While describing the development of Hemidactylus morphologically, we identified additional tiny bones close to the phalanges of their digits which can be interpreted as ecomorphological specialisations assisting the adhesive toepads“ says van der Vos, co-author on the study. „Also, some phalanges are highly reduced to disc-like shape“. „µCT scanning helped us to identify these eco-spezialized structures in the gecko’s hand and feet“, explains Bickelmann, co-author on the study. Furthermore, „bone histological analyses show that Hemidactylus show longbone remodelling rather comparable to medium-sized to large squamates“, says co-author Stein from Belgium. Finally, the study also draws comparison to the in-ovo development of other squamates, and enlarges our knowledge of morphological trait evolution in squamate reptiles.

 

Published in: W Van der Vos, K Stein, N Di-Poï & C Bickelmann. 2018. Ontogeny of Hemidactylus (Gekkota, Squamata) with emphasis on the limbs. Zoosystematics and Evolution. Planned publication on March 8th, 2018.

 

Free pictures you get here:

http://download.naturkundemuseum-berlin.de/presse/Gecko

13 days old embryo (photographer: Constanze Bickelmann, MfN Berlin) and three years old adult female (photographer: Frank Tillack, MfN Berlin).

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