Comparative cranial osteology of European gekkotans (Reptilia, Squamata)
Villa, Andrea (Università degli Studi di Torino. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra)
Daza, Juan D. (Sam Houston State University. Department of Biological Sciences)
Bauer, Aaron M.. (Villanova University. Department of Biology)
Delfino, Massimo (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)

Date:	2018
Abstract:	Comparative osteology of European lizards, and of European geckos in particular, is poorly known, resulting in problems when trying to determine to species isolated bones found as fossils or as remains of prey in scats or pellets. In order to partly solve this issue, we here present a detailed comparative analysis of the cranial bones of the four most broadly distributed species of European gekkotans: Euleptes europaea, Hemidactylus turcicus, Mediodactylus kotschyi and Tarentola mauritanica. The skulls of these species display both a set of features that are typical for geckos in general and unique features that can be employed to identify isolated bones of all considered species. Diagnostic differences are found in almost every bone (except the squamosal, epipterygoid and stapes), leading to the creation of a detailed diagnostic key. The dentition also displays some interspecific differences, even though all four species share a similar general tooth morphology, with pleurodont teeth provided with two parallel cutting edges separated by a groove-like space. Such a dentition is consistent with an arthropod-based diet.
Grants:	European Commission 226506 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CGL2016-76431-P Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2014/SGR-416
Rights:	Tots els drets reservats.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Comparative anatomy ; Euleptes europaea ; Hemidactylus turcicus ; Mediodactylus kotschyi ; Tarentola mauritanica
Published in:	Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, Vol. 184, issue 3 (Nov. 2018) , p. 857-895, ISSN 1096-3642

DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx104

Postprint 78 p, 7.6 MB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles