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Anatomy of an enigma: an osteological investigation of the Namibian festive gecko ( Narudasia festiva : Gekkonidae: Gekkota)
Author(s) -
Daza Juan D.,
Aurich Janina,
Bauer Aaron M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta zoologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.414
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1463-6395
pISSN - 0001-7272
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-6395.2011.00521.x
Subject(s) - osteology , gekkonidae , biology , gecko , neurocranium , synapomorphy , autapomorphy , zoology , anatomy , evolutionary biology , clade , phylogenetic tree , squamata , skull , biochemistry , gene
Daza, J.D., Aurich, J. and Bauer, A.M. 2011. Anatomy of an enigma: an osteological investigation of the Namibian festive gecko ( Narudasia festiva : Gekkonidae: Gekkota). — Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 93 : 465–486. The monotypic genus Narudasia is a poorly studied Namibian endemic gekkonid lizard. It has been hypothesized to have close relationships with a diversity of other gekkotan genera, including representatives of three of the currently recognized families of geckos, but most such interpretations have been based solely on overall morphological similarity. X‐ray CT scans, cleared‐and‐stained specimens and conventional radiographs were used to provide a detailed osteological description of N. festiva , with an emphasis on the cranium. Narudasia exhibits a number of features associated with miniaturization, including a relatively large neurocranium and a bulging occipital condyle. However, many skeletal features differ from other minaturized taxa but are shared with one or more larger‐bodied gecko taxa. Narudasia shares a number of putatively derived features with at least some representatives of a large clade of Afro‐Malagasy gekkonids, but at present neither molecular nor osteological data adequately resolve its relationships. It remains a phylogenetic enigma, but more extensive osteological taxon sampling across the Gekkota may ultimately reveal synapomorphies uniting Narudasia with particular Afro‐Malagasy genera.