Genotypic and phenotypic evidence indicates the introduction of two distinct forms of a non-native species (Gekko gecko) to Florida, USA

Abstract

AbstractThe red-spotted tokay geckoGekko gecko(Linnaeus, 1758) is a widely distributed Asian gecko that has established outside of its native range in Florida, USA. This study used genotypic and phenotypic data to determine whether multiple, distinct forms of red-spotted tokay gecko are present in Florida, specifically the morphologically distinct “G. g. gecko” and “Form B”. Two discrete mitochondrial clades (ND2) were identified in Florida tokay geckos, the native range distributions of which were found to correspond closely with the native ranges ofG. g. gecko(the Malay Archipelago) and Form B (mainland Asia), respectively. Furthermore, each mitochondrial clade was non-randomly associated with a separate nuclear (RAG-1) clade, supporting the existence of two discrete genotypic lineages, representative ofG. g. geckoand Form B. Both lineages were detected in Florida, and population-level morphological structure was non-randomly associated with genotype, confirming a genotype-phenotype link. Multiple lines of evidence thus indicate the introduction of both forms of tokay gecko to Florida, where hybridisation likely also occurs. The link between morphological Form B and a unique genotypic lineage also indicates the existence of a tokay gecko taxon distinct from the recognised subspeciesG. g. azhariMertens, 1955 andG. g. gecko(Linnaeus, 1758).