Habitat Selection by Sphaerodactylus Nicholsi (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico

López-Ortiz, Ricardo; Lewis, Allen R.

doi:10.1655/03-84

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Perception of stimuli from these two modalities and their importance in eliciting behaviours provide a biologically and ecologically relevant framework to our comparisons of sensory regions between the two brains. However, the two species differ in aspects of their ecology; S. nicholsi is terrestrial and diurnal (Genet et al, 2001;López-Ortiz & Lewis, 2004), and G. smithii is arboreal and nocturnal (Shahrudin, 2013;. Because ecological differences influence neuroanatomy, we are unable to confidently generalize the effect of miniaturization on the lizard brain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Lizards as models to explore the ecological and neuroanatomical correlates of miniaturization

Perez-Martinez

Leal

2021

Behav.

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Extreme body size reductions bring about unorthodox anatomical arrangements and novel ways in which animals interact with the environment. Drawing from studies of vertebrates and invertebrates, we provide a theoretical framework for miniaturization to inform hypotheses using lizards as a study system. Through this approach, we demonstrate the repeated evolution of miniaturization across 11 families and a tendency for miniaturized species to occupy terrestrial microhabitats, possibly driven by physiological constraints. Differences in gross brain morphology between two gecko species demonstrate a proportionally larger telencephalon and smaller olfactory bulbs in the miniaturized species, though more data are needed to generalize this trend. Our study brings into light the potential contributions of miniaturized lizards to explain patterns of body size evolution and its impact on ecology and neuroanatomy. In addition, our findings reveal the need to study the natural history of miniaturized species, particularly in relation to their sensory and physiological ecology.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Lizards as models to explore the ecological and neuroanatomical correlates of miniaturization

Perez-Martinez

Leal

2021

Behav.

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“…). On the other hand, their small body size, relatively large surface area/volume ratio, and diurnal activity make them vulnerable to thermal stress and dehydration (Lopez‐Ortiz and Lewis ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Geckos have two main characteristics that make them amenable to overwater dispersal: (1) They have eggs that are resistant to the effects of dehydration and temporary immersion in sea water (Brown and Alcala 1957 ), and (2) a special adhesive area at the tips of geckoes' digits allows them to hold on securely to flotsams (Russell 2002 ; Vanhooydonck et al 2005 ). On the other hand, their small body size, relatively large surface area/volume ratio, and diurnal activity make them vulnerable to thermal stress and dehydration (Lopez-Ortiz and Lewis 2004 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Colonization of islands in the Mona Passage by endemic dwarf geckoes (genus Sphaerodactylus) reconstructed with mitochondrial phylogeny

Díaz-Lameiro

Oleksyk

Bird-Picó

et al. 2013

Ecology and Evolution

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Little is known about the natural history of the Sphaerodactylus species endemic to the three islands located in the Mona Passage separating the Greater Antillean islands of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. In this study, parts of two mitochondrial genes, 16S rRNA and 12S rRNA, were sequenced to determine the relationships between the sphaerodactylids that live in the Mona Passage and other Caribbean species from the same genus. While the main goal was to identify the biogeographical origin of these species, we also identified a genetically distinct type of dwarf gecko that warrants future evaluation as a possible new species. According to the reconstructed phylogenies, we propose a stepwise model of colonization wherein S. nicholsi from southwestern Puerto Rico or a very close ancestor gave rise through a founder event to Sphaerodactylus monensis on Mona Island. In a similar fashion, S. monensis or a very close ancestor on Mona Island gave rise to S. levinsi on Desecheo Island. This study also suggests that the most recent common ancestor between the species from the islands in the Mona Passage and Puerto Rico existed approximately 3 MYA.

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Assessing the conservation risk of Sphaerodactylus notatus, the U.S. herpetofaunal species most vulnerable to sea level rise

et al. 2020

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Habitat Selection by Sphaerodactylus Nicholsi (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico

Cited by 8 publications

References 30 publications

Lizards as models to explore the ecological and neuroanatomical correlates of miniaturization

Lizards as models to explore the ecological and neuroanatomical correlates of miniaturization

Colonization of islands in the Mona Passage by endemic dwarf geckoes (genus Sphaerodactylus) reconstructed with mitochondrial phylogeny

Assessing the conservation risk of Sphaerodactylus notatus, the U.S. herpetofaunal species most vulnerable to sea level rise

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