Morphology of gekkonid cutaneous sensilla, with comments on function and phylogeny in the Carphodactylini (Reptilia: Gekkonidae)

Abstract

The surface morphology of the cutaneous sensilla of 12 species of carphodactyline geckos is described and discussed in light of sensillar function and the phylogeny of the tribe. Sensilla are common on paralamellar scales of most geckos but are here described for the first time from the scansorial plates themselves in Hoplodactylus maculatus. Sensilla from all members of the New Zealand – New Caledonian lineage of carphodactylines bear a single central bristle. The Australian padless geckos (Nephrurus, Phyllurus, Underwoodisaurus) bear sensilla with one to eight bristles which themselves bear many lateral setules. This state is a synapomorphy of those taxa. The spinose subdigital scales and the scales of the knob-tail of Nephrurus bear sensilla without bristles. The absence of bristles is correlated with the lack of epidermal microarchitecture in Nephrurus (perhaps a paedomorphic feature), and with functional demands that expose the sensilla to constant direct substrate contact.