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'''''Pachydactylus''''' is a [[genus]] of [[insectivore|insectivorous]] [[gecko]]s, [[lizard]]s in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Gekkonidae]]. The genus is [[Endemism|endemic]] to [[Africa]], and member [[species]] are commonly known as '''thick-toed geckos'''. The genus also displays rich [[speciation]], having 57 distinct species identified when compared to other closely related gecko genera like ''[[Rhoptropus]].''<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Gamble|first=Tony|last2=Greenbaum|first2=Eli|last3=Jackman|first3=Todd R.|last4=Russell|first4=Anthony P.|last5=Bauer|first5=Aaron M.|date=2012-06-27|title=Repeated Origin and Loss of Adhesive Toepads in Geckos|url=https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0039429|journal=PLOS ONE|language=en|volume=7|issue=6|pages=e39429|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0039429|issn=1932-6203|pmc=PMC3384654|pmid=22761794}}</ref> It has been suggested that the reason for this rich speciation not from [[adaptive radiation]] nor [[nonadaptive radiation]], but that the genus represents a clade somewhere between the two drivers of speciation.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Heinicke|first=Matthew P.|last2=Jackman|first2=Todd R.|last3=Bauer|first3=Aaron M.|date=2017-01-11|title=The measure of success: geographic isolation promotes diversification in Pachydactylus geckos|url=https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-016-0846-2|journal=BMC Evolutionary Biology|volume=17|issue=1|pages=9|doi=10.1186/s12862-016-0846-2|issn=1471-2148|pmc=PMC5225572|pmid=28077086}}</ref>
'''''Pachydactylus''''' is a [[genus]] of [[insectivore|insectivorous]] [[gecko]]s, [[lizard]]s in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Gekkonidae]]. The genus is [[Endemism|endemic]] to [[Africa]], and member [[species]] are commonly known as '''thick-toed geckos'''.


==Description==
==Description==
The genus ''Pachydactylus'' is characterized by dilated toe tips, usually with undivided scansors. Body scales are small, granular and non-overlapping, with scattered, large keeled [[tubercles]].{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}
The genus ''Pachydactylus'' is characterized by dilated toe tips, usually with undivided scansors. Body scales are small, granular and non-overlapping, with scattered, large keeled [[tubercles]].{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} Presence of adhesive toe pads varies by species and habitat, with rock dwelling species of ''Pachydactylus'' retaining adhesive pads, but unambiguous independent loss of toe pads in sand dwelling and burrowing species like [[Pachydactylus rangei|''P. rangei'']].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gamble|first=Tony|last2=Greenbaum|first2=Eli|last3=Jackman|first3=Todd R.|last4=Russell|first4=Anthony P.|last5=Bauer|first5=Aaron M.|date=2012-06-27|title=Repeated Origin and Loss of Adhesive Toepads in Geckos|url=https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0039429|journal=PLOS ONE|language=en|volume=7|issue=6|pages=e39429|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0039429|issn=1932-6203|pmc=PMC3384654|pmid=22761794}}</ref>

Body size in ''Pachydactylus'' varies across the 57 species, with the [[Primitive (phylogenetics)|ancestral condition]] of a larger body size to suit a generalist habitat.<ref name=":1" />


==Behavior==
==Behavior==
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==Habitat==
==Habitat==
''Pachydactylus'' species live in a diverse range of [[habitat]]s across Southern Africa. Habitat varies by species, with some species preferring a generalist habitat, some rock-dwelling species, and some sand dwelling species. Habitat preference typically varies by body size and retention of toe pads, which varies across the genus.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Heinicke|first=Matthew P.|last2=Jackman|first2=Todd R.|last3=Bauer|first3=Aaron M.|date=2017-01-11|title=The measure of success: geographic isolation promotes diversification in Pachydactylus geckos|url=https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-016-0846-2|journal=BMC Evolutionary Biology|volume=17|issue=1|pages=9|doi=10.1186/s12862-016-0846-2|issn=1471-2148|pmc=PMC5225572|pmid=28077086}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
''Pachydactylus'' species live in a diverse range of [[habitat]]s.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}


==Diet==
==Diet==
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==Geographic range==
==Geographic range==
The geographic range of the genus ''Pachydactylus'' is centered on [[Southern Africa]], with some species reaching [[East Africa]], the northernmost limit of their distribution.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} In South Africa's rugged Richtersveld region, ''Pachydactylus'' geckos comprise 72% of all gecko species surveyed.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bauer|first=A. M.|title=The herpetofauna of the Richtersveld National Park and the adjacent northern Richtersveld, Northern Cape Province, Republic of South Africa|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294683981_The_herpetofauna_of_the_Richtersveld_National_Park_and_the_adjacent_northern_Richtersveld_Northern_Cape_Province_Republic_of_South_Africa|journal=Herpetological Natural History|volume=8|pages=111-160|via=Researchgate}}</ref>
The geographic range of the genus ''Pachydactylus'' is centered on [[Southern Africa]], with some species reaching [[East Africa]], the northernmost limit of their distribution.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} In South Africa's rugged [[Richtersveld]] region, ''Pachydactylus'' geckos comprise 72% of all gecko species surveyed.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bauer|first=A. M.|title=The herpetofauna of the Richtersveld National Park and the adjacent northern Richtersveld, Northern Cape Province, Republic of South Africa|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294683981_The_herpetofauna_of_the_Richtersveld_National_Park_and_the_adjacent_northern_Richtersveld_Northern_Cape_Province_Republic_of_South_Africa|journal=Herpetological Natural History|volume=8|pages=111-160|via=Researchgate}}</ref>


==Species==
==Species==

Revision as of 02:18, 16 April 2021

Thick-toed geckos
P. oshaughnessyi at Lusaka, Zambia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Subfamily: Uroplatinae
Genus: Pachydactylus
Wiegmann, 1834[1]
Synonyms

Colopus W. Peters, 1869[2]
Palmatogecko Andersson, 1908[3]

Pachydactylus is a genus of insectivorous geckos, lizards in the family Gekkonidae. The genus is endemic to Africa, and member species are commonly known as thick-toed geckos. The genus also displays rich speciation, having 57 distinct species identified when compared to other closely related gecko genera like Rhoptropus.[4] It has been suggested that the reason for this rich speciation not from adaptive radiation nor nonadaptive radiation, but that the genus represents a clade somewhere between the two drivers of speciation.[5]

Description

The genus Pachydactylus is characterized by dilated toe tips, usually with undivided scansors. Body scales are small, granular and non-overlapping, with scattered, large keeled tubercles.[citation needed] Presence of adhesive toe pads varies by species and habitat, with rock dwelling species of Pachydactylus retaining adhesive pads, but unambiguous independent loss of toe pads in sand dwelling and burrowing species like P. rangei.[6]

Body size in Pachydactylus varies across the 57 species, with the ancestral condition of a larger body size to suit a generalist habitat.[5]

Behavior

Most, if not all, species of Pachydactylus are nocturnal.[citation needed]

Habitat

Pachydactylus species live in a diverse range of habitats across Southern Africa. Habitat varies by species, with some species preferring a generalist habitat, some rock-dwelling species, and some sand dwelling species. Habitat preference typically varies by body size and retention of toe pads, which varies across the genus.[7][4]

Diet

Lizards of the genus Pachydactylus feed mainly on arthropods.[citation needed]

Geographic range

The geographic range of the genus Pachydactylus is centered on Southern Africa, with some species reaching East Africa, the northernmost limit of their distribution.[citation needed] In South Africa's rugged Richtersveld region, Pachydactylus geckos comprise 72% of all gecko species surveyed.[8]

Species

There are 57 species that are recognized as being valid:[9]

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Pachydactylus.

References

  1. ^ "Pachydactylus ". ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
  2. ^ Species Pachydactylus wahlbergii at The Reptile Database . ("Colopus wahlbergii PETERS 1869 is the type species of the genus Colopus.")
  3. ^ Species Pachydactylus rangei at The Reptile Database . ("Palmatogecko rangei [ANDERSSON 1908] is the type species of the genus Palmatogecko.")
  4. ^ a b Gamble, Tony; Greenbaum, Eli; Jackman, Todd R.; Russell, Anthony P.; Bauer, Aaron M. (2012-06-27). "Repeated Origin and Loss of Adhesive Toepads in Geckos". PLOS ONE. 7 (6): e39429. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0039429. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 3384654. PMID 22761794.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: PMC format (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  5. ^ a b Heinicke, Matthew P.; Jackman, Todd R.; Bauer, Aaron M. (2017-01-11). "The measure of success: geographic isolation promotes diversification in Pachydactylus geckos". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 17 (1): 9. doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0846-2. ISSN 1471-2148. PMC 5225572. PMID 28077086.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: PMC format (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  6. ^ Gamble, Tony; Greenbaum, Eli; Jackman, Todd R.; Russell, Anthony P.; Bauer, Aaron M. (2012-06-27). "Repeated Origin and Loss of Adhesive Toepads in Geckos". PLOS ONE. 7 (6): e39429. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0039429. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 3384654. PMID 22761794.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: PMC format (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  7. ^ Heinicke, Matthew P.; Jackman, Todd R.; Bauer, Aaron M. (2017-01-11). "The measure of success: geographic isolation promotes diversification in Pachydactylus geckos". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 17 (1): 9. doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0846-2. ISSN 1471-2148. PMC 5225572. PMID 28077086.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: PMC format (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  8. ^ Bauer, A. M. "The herpetofauna of the Richtersveld National Park and the adjacent northern Richtersveld, Northern Cape Province, Republic of South Africa". Herpetological Natural History. 8: 111–160 – via Researchgate.
  9. ^ "Pachydactylus ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  10. ^ a b Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Pachydactylus barnardi, p. 17; P. weberi, p. 280).

Further reading

  • Bauer AM, Lamb T, Branch WR (2006). "A Revision of the Pachydactylus serval and P. weberi Groups (Reptilia: Gekkota: Gekkonidae) of Southern Africa, with the Description of Eight New Species". Proc. California Acad. Sci. 57 (23): 595–709.
  • Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume I. Geckonidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 436 pp. + Plates I-XXXi. (Genus Pachydactylus, p. 200).
  • Branch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Genus Pachydactylus, pp. 249–250).
  • Wiegmann AFA (1834). Herpetologia Mexicana, seu descriptio amphibiorum Novae Hispaniae, quae itineribus comitis Sack, Ferdinandi Deppe et Chr. Guil. Schiede in Museum Zoologicum Berolinense pervenerunt. Pars prima, saurorum species amplectens. Adiecto systematis saurorum prodromo, additisque multis in hunc amphibiorum ordinem observationibus. Berlin: C.G. Lüderitz. vi + 54 pp. + Plates I-X. (Pachydactylus, new genus, p. 19). (in Latin).

External links


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