Open AccessErneute Bewertung der miozänen Bernsteinechse Sphaerodactylus dommeli Böhme, 1984 (Squamata: Gekkota: Sphaerodactylidae)
Author(s) -
Daza Juan D.,
Bauer Aaron M.,
Wagner Philipp,
Böhme Wolfgang
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of zoological systematics and evolutionary research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.769
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1439-0469
pISSN - 0947-5745
DOI - 10.1111/jzs.12001
Subject(s) - squamata , zoology , biology , lizard , osteology , genus , anolis , humanities , ethnology , evolutionary biology , philosophy , history
The Miocene gecko in amber, S phaerodactylus dommeli , is one of the best‐preserved fossil gekkotan species; nonetheless, its identity has been questioned and it has been insinuated to be an iguanian referable to the mega‐diverse genus A nolis . In this paper, we provide digital X ‐rays and new osteological evidence that include 11 characters that reaffirms its placement within the infraorder G ekkota and eight characters that specifically place this fossil within the species‐rich genus Sphaerodactylus , in which it was originally described. This contribution seeks to eliminate remaining scepticism about the generic allocation of this species, and to provide a reliable calibration point for ongoing research in squamate phylogenetics, especially for biogeographical studies and molecular dating inference. This contribution also reviews many diagnostic characters for the two genera in question, which is critical for the correct identification of amber‐embedded specimens representing the rich Hispaniolan lizard paleocommunity.