Gekkonidae (the common geckos) is the largest family of
geckos, containing over 950 described
species in 62
genera.[1][2][3][4][5][6] The Gekkonidae contain many of the most widespread gecko species, including house geckos (Hemidactylus), the tokay gecko (Gekko), day geckos (Phelsuma), the
mourning gecko (Lepidodactylus), and dtellas (Gehyra). Gekkonid geckos occur globally and are particularly diverse in tropical areas. Many species of these geckos exhibit an adhering ability to surfaces through
Van der Waals forces utilizing intermolecular forces between molecules of their setae (foot hair) and molecules of the surface they are on.
The genus Hemidactylus is one of the most species-rich and widely distributed of all reptile genera.[7]
Fossils
The family Gekkonidae is a member of the
infraorderGekkota, which seems to have first emerged during the
Jurassic period (201-145 million years ago). Eichstaettisaurus schroederi is recognized as one of the earliest examples of an ancestral gecko species. Members of the genus Eichstaettisaurus display morphological adaptations associated with climbing. Eichstaettisaurus has been ranked as a stem gekkotan, but its true taxonomic rank is unclear.[8]
The species Hoburogekko suchanovi and Gobekko cretacicus, dated to the
Albian-
Aptian ages (121-100 million years ago) ages of the
Cretaceous period, are unquestionably members of Gekkota. They are thought to be members of the Gekkonidae, as well, but their taxonomic rank is uncertain due to the incompleteness of the fossil remains.[9]
Yantarogekko balticus is the earliest known gekkonid gecko. Y. balticus was discovered in
Baltic amber dated to the
Eocene epoch (56-33.9 million years ago).[9] This species was small, measuring only 20–22 mm from
snout to vent. Y. balticus has enlarged, undivided
scansorial pads and a reduced but strongly clawed first digit, and lacks movable
eyelids. Together, these morphological traits are distinctive of the family Gekkonidae, and also indicate that Y. balticus may have had adhesive abilities similar to modern geckos.
Distribution
Species within the Gekkonidae inhabit every warm region. Furthermore, many genera are capable of widespread geographical habitation, and can be considered
invasive in some areas; the genus Hemidactylus can be identified in all subtropical areas of the world.[10][7][11] However, many genera in the family Gekkonidae are endemic. For example, genera Afroedura and Afrogecko are found only in
Africa.[12][13] The range of genus Lepidodactylus stretches from South Asia to Oceania; this genus also accounts for several island species.[14] The genera listed here do not account for all Gekkonidae subspecies and are used only as examples of distribution. For a full list, see section 'Genera'.[15][16][17]
^
abCarranza, S., and E. Arnold. "Systematics, Biogeography, and Evolution of Hemidactylus Geckos (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) Elucidated Using Mitochondrial DNA Sequences." Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, vol. 38, no. 2, Elsevier Inc, 2006, pp. 531–45,
doi:
10.1016/j.ympev.2005.07.012.
^Pyron, R Alexander, Frank T Burbrink and John J Wiens. 2013. A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2013 13:93.
doi:
10.1186/1471-2148-13-93