Clarifying a male color morph of Sphaerodactylus macrolepis Günther, 1859 and Resolving the Taxonomic Confusion on Saint Croix

Authors

Aaron H. Griffing, Princeton University
Shannon E. Keating, University of Pittsburgh
Brendan J. Pinto, Arizona State University
Stuart V. Nielsen, Louisiana State University
Tony Gamble, Marquette UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2023

Publisher

Magnolia Press

Source Publication

Zootaxa

Source ISSN

1175-5326

Abstract

Many species of sphaerodactyl gecko exhibit sexual dichromatism. In particular, dichromatism plays an important role in intersexual signaling for Sphaerodactylus. Furthermore, some species exhibit polymorphism in male color and pattern. Here, we describe a regional male color morph of Sphaerodactylus macrolepis from St. Croix. After generating both mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies, we found that individuals with the St. Croix-specific yellow/orange head morph are part of the S. macrolepis clade. This distinct color morph likely contributed to the turbulent taxonomic history of the S. macrolepis species group. Given the documented diversity of the color patterns in this group and that sexual signals evolve rapidly, we suggest S. macrolepis is an excellent group to study the ecological and evolutionary consequences of dichromatism and polymorphism.

Comments

Zootaxa, Vol. 5343, No. 3 (September 2023). Publisher link.

Recommended Citation

Griffing, Aaron H.; Keating, Shannon E.; Pinto, Brendan J.; Nielsen, Stuart V.; and Gamble, Tony, "Clarifying a male color morph of Sphaerodactylus macrolepis Günther, 1859 and Resolving the Taxonomic Confusion on Saint Croix" (2023). Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 952.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bio_fac/952