多疣壁虎的雌性繁殖及孵化温度对孵化期和孵化幼体特征的影响

多疣壁虎 (Ｇｅｋｋｏｊａｐｏｎｉｃｕｓ)是华东地区蜥蜴区系的重要成分 ,向西分布至四川东部 ,向北分布至甘肃和陕西南部 ,国外见于朝鲜南部和日本部分岛屿[7,3 2 ] 。有关该种的生态学研究已涉及 ,①雌雄两性异形和繁殖习性[4 ,16,2 4 ] ;②卵孵化和温度决定性别[3 ,17,2 6,2 7] ;③贮能部位及各部位的年变化和相对重要性评估[1,16] ;④温度对摄食量和食物同化的影响[2 ] ;⑤胚胎和成体的代谢率[6,13 ,3 0 ,3 1] 。浙江杭州产多疣壁虎年产 1～ 3窝卵 ,窝卵数通常恒定为 2枚 ,大个体产多窝卵 ,第 1窝卵和第 2窝卵的卵重无显著差异[4 ] 。…     

Flip,flop and fly: modulated motor control and highly variable movement patterns of autotomized gecko tails

Many animals lose and regenerate appendages, and tail autotomy in lizards is an extremely well-studied example of this. Whereas the energetic, ecological and functional ramifications of tail loss for many lizards have been extensively documented, little is known about the behaviour and neuromuscular control of the autotomized tail. We used electromyography and high-speed video to quantify the motor control and movement patterns of autotomized tails of leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius). In addition to rhythmic swinging, we show that they exhibit extremely complex movement patterns for up to 30 min following autotomy, including acrobatic flips up to 3 cm in height. Unlike the output of most central pattern generators (CPGs), muscular control of the tail is variable and can be arrhythmic. We suggest that the gecko tail is well suited for studies involving CPGs, given that this spinal preparation is naturally occurring, requires no surgery and exhibits complex modulation.     

Genetic variability of the tokay gecko based on microsatellite analysis

The black-spotted tokay gecko and red-spotted tokay gecko have different distribution areas and are significantly different in appearance but are classified into the same species Gekko gecko. Twelve microsatellite loci were isolated, characterized and evaluated from wild black-spotted tokay geckos for the first time. Of them, nine loci were successfully amplified in red-spotted tokay geckos using multiplex polymerase chain reactions (PCRs). A total of 208 different alleles were observed in the 70 wild black-spotted and red-spotted tokays, and the average number of alleles per locus was 17.3. The average values for observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity and polymorphism information content were 0.762, 0.891 and 0.871, respectively, which showed that the wild G. gecko population had a high level of genetic variability. Both black-spotted tokays and red-spotted tokays showed a significant (P < 0.001) deficit of heterozygotes. The red-spotted tokay (H_E = 0.881, A = 16.4) had a higher level of genetic variability than black-spotted tokay (H_E = 0.804, A = 10.7). The pairwise F_ST (P < 0.001) estimates of the two types of tokay were 0.143, which indicated that there was a significant level of genetic differentiation between the two.     

Trypanosoma thecadactyli sp. n. from Forest Geckoes in Panama,and its Development in the Sandfly Lutzomyia trinidadensis (Newstead) (Diptera,Psychodidae)*

SYNOPSIS. Trypanosoma thecadactyli sp. n. is described from the forest gecko Thecadactylus rapicaudus in Panama. Blood smears from 18 of 25 (72%) geckoes sampled were positive for the new trypanosome. The flagellate, ～22 μm long, is ovoid or roughly triangular in shape and has a posterior cytoplasmic projection. Tree buttresses, rock crevices, and caves are microhabitats shared by T. rapicaudus and the phlebotomine sandfly Lutzomyia trinidadensis. Approximately 20% of the wild-caught and dissected L. trinidadensis were infected with flagellates. Twenty-four of 45 (53%) laboratory-reared L. trinidadensis allowed to feed on parasitized geckoes developed heavy infections of the mid- and hindgut which persisted up to 2 weeks, the longest postprandial period before dissection. Transmission probably occurs as a result of geckoes feeding on infected sandflies in nature. The distribution of L. trinidadensis, from Mexico to Brazil, approximates that of the gecko. Laboratory results and ecologic observations implicate L. trinidadensis as a potential vector of T. thecadactyli.     

Comparative studies on the structure and adhesion of setae in G. gecko and G. swinhonis

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and histological techniques were used to observe and study the setae structures of two gecko species (G. gecko and G. swinhonis) and the relationships between these structures and the adhesive forces. The SEM results showed that the setae of these two species were densely distributed in an orderly fashion, and branched with curved tips. The setae of G. gecko had cluster structures, each cluster containing 4-6 setae whose terminal branches curved towards the center of the toes at ~ 10o, the tips of the branches like spatulae and densely arrayed at an interval of less than 0.2―0.3 μm. On the contrary, the branch tips in the setae of G. swinhonis were curled, and the terminal parts of setae curved towards the center of the toes at various angles. Usually the setae of these gecko species branch twice at the top at intervals greater than that of G. gecko. The histological observation found that inside the setae of these two species there were plenty of unevenly distributed contents, such as epithelia, fat cells, pigmental cells and muscle tissue, but no gland cells existed. The results of functional experiments suggested that modifying the structure of gecko's setae could reduce its adhesive ability dramatically, demonstrating the positive correlation between the structure of the gecko's setae and its adhesive ability. The above results provide important information in designing bio-mimic setae and bio-gecko robots.     

Phylogenetic relationships among gekkotan lizards inferred from C-mos nuclear DNA sequences and a new classification of the Gekkota

A phylogeny of gekkotan lizards was derived from C- mos nuclear DNA sequence data. Forty-one currently recognized genera, representing all major gekkotan lineages, were included in the study. A total of 378 bp of partial C- mos gene sequences was obtained and aligned. Maximum parsimony (MP) and maximum likelihood (ML) trees were generated based on unweighted analysis using P AUP *; similar tree topologies were recovered by both methods. The Eublepharidae were monophyletic and its relationship to other major clades was poorly resolved. The Pygopodidae of Kluge (1987) was monophyletic, but relationships within this group differed from those retrieved by previous analyses. The Diplodactylini + padded carphodactylines were the sister group of pygopods + padless carphodactylines. The Gekkonidae were monophyletic, but we found no evidence in support of the Teratoscincinae, as Teratoscincus was embedded well within the gekkonids. Both MP and ML analyses supported the basal position of Sphaerodactylus within the gekkonids, in contrast to morphologically based hypotheses. We propose a new higher order classification of the Gekkota that reflect these results. Five gekkotan families: Eublepharidae, Gekkonidae, Pygopodidae, Diplodactylidae, and Carphodactylidae are recognized. The higher order status of the sphaerodactyls will require more intensive sampling of this group. Our results support the hypothesis that the early cladogenesis of the Gekkota was associated with the split of Eastern Gondwanaland from Western Gondwanaland. Divergences among living genera in the Eublepharidae and the Eastern Gondwanan lineages (Diplodactylidae, Pygopodidae and Carphodactylidae) may be older than those in the Gekkonidae.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 83 , 353–368.     

广西弄岗国家级自然保护区蛤蚧分布与种群数量

2008年5～6月,采用访问调查和样线法,对弄岗国家级自然保护区蛤蚧Gekko gecko的分布和种群数量进行了调查.结果表明,弄岗片蛤蚧分布较多,陇山片和陇呼片分布较少;用样线法重点对弄岗片蛤蚧数量进行调查,根据统计数据计算出种群密度为13.45对/km2.     

Geckos Race Across the Water’s Surface Using Multiple Mechanisms

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The divergence of two independent lineages of an endemic Chinese gecko,Gekko swinhonis,launched by the Qinling orogenic belt

The genetic structure and demographic history of an endemic Chinese gecko, Gekko swinhonis, were investigated by analysing the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and 10 microsatellite loci for samples collected from 27 localities. Mitochondrial DNA data provided a detailed distribution of two highly divergent evolutionary lineages, between which the average pairwise distance achieved was 0.14. The geographic division of the two lineages coincided with a plate boundary consisting of the Qinling and Taihang Mts, suggesting a historical vicariant pattern. The orogeny of the Qinling Mts, a dispersal and major climatic barrier of the region, may have launched the independent lineage divergence. Both lineages have experienced recent expansion, and the current sympatric localities comprised the region of contact between the lineages. Individual‐based phylogenetic analyses of nucDNA and Bayesian‐clustering approaches revealed a deep genetic structure analogous to mtDNA. Incongruence between nucDNA and mtDNA at the individual level at localities outside of the contact region can be explained by the different inheritance patterns and male‐biased dispersal in this species. High genetic divergence, long‐term isolation and ecological adaptation, as well as the morphological differences, suggest the presence of a cryptic species.