Premium
Peramorphic traits in the tokay gecko skull
Author(s) -
Daza Juan D.,
Mapps Aurelia A.,
Lewis Patrick J.,
Thies Monte L.,
Bauer Aaron M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.20389
Subject(s) - biology , gecko , skull , evolutionary biology , squamata , neoteny , phylogenetic tree , zoology , ontogeny , anatomy , phylogenetics , genetics , gene
ABSTRACT Traditionally, geckos have been conceived to exhibit paedomorphic features relative to other lizards (e.g., large eyes, less extensively ossified skulls, and amphicoelous and notochordal vertebrae). In contrast, peramorphosis has not been considered an important process in shaping their morphology. Here, we studied different sized specimens of Gekko gecko to document ontogenetic changes in cranial anatomy, especially near maturity. Comparison of this species with available descriptions of other geckos resulted in the identification of 14 cranial characteristics that are expressed more strongly with size increase. These characteristics become move evident in later stages of post‐hatching development, especially near maturation, and are, therefore, attributed to peramorphosis (hyperossification). ACCTRAN and DELTRAN character optimizations were applied to these characters using a tree of 11 genera derived from a gekkotan molecular phylogeny. This analysis revealed that G. gecko expresses the majority of these putative peramorphic features near maturity, and that some of these features are also expressed in species closely related to G. gecko . The characters studied have the potential to be applied in future phylogenetic and taxonomic studies of this group of lizards. J. Morphol. 276:915–928, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.