Geckolepis megalepis is a species of gecko found in the limestone karst formations of northern Madagascar. It is the first addition to the Geckolepisgenus since 1942.[1] This species of gecko has the largest scales of any known gecko and can detach them as a defence mechanism when a predator attacks, leaving the predator with a mouthful of scales rather than itself;[1] a character it shares with all other members of the genus Geckolepis. Its scales were reported to come away with greater ease than its congeners.[1]
Geckolepis megalepis
A & B: Adults with scales intact C: Adult without scales
Geckolepis megalepis was described from Ankarana National Park. It is thought to be restricted to the tsingykarst formations of this park. It was proposed to be Near Threatened in its original description, due to ongoing anthropogenic degradation of its habitat, but probable resilience to these changes.[1]
Defense mechanismedit
Geckolepis megalepis has remarkably large scales (hence the specific epithet 'megalepis', from the Greek words for "very large scales") and an extreme variation of integumentary autotomy.[1] Myofibroblastic contraction in a pre-formed splitting-zone sheds the keratinized epidermis, connective tissues and subcutaneous fat tissue. Typical integumentary autotomy in squamates only includes the keratinized epidermis, thus distinguishing the de-scalation methods of G. megalepis. Scarless regeneration of the entire denuded integument occurs within several weeks, resuming superficial scalation patterns. The skin, being so easily shed, became difficult for scientists attempting captures or studies without causing structural damage to the epidermis. Eventually they were able to come up with a way to collect them, and discovered that the species' scales are dense and mineralized (though not recognized by the authors as osteoderms). Dermolytic scale autotomy in G. megalepis has remained poorly recorded thus far, only being witnessed in an anti-predator setting with a Blaesodactylus gecko. Further documentation of the autotomy process is required to better understand the origins of regeneration and associated morphological characters in Geckolepis.[2]
Ecologyedit
Little to nothing is known of the ecology of Geckolepis megalepis, except that it is nocturnal, arboreal, and insectivorous.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefScherz, Mark D.; Daza, Juan D.; Köhler, Jörn; Vences, Miguel; Glaw, Frank (2017). "Off the scale: a new species of fish-scale gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Geckolepis) with exceptionally large scales". PeerJ. 5: e2955. doi:10.7717/peerj.2955. PMC5299998. PMID 28194313.
^"New Species of Gecko with Massive Scales and Tear-away Skin Identified". 7 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
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geckolepis, megalepis, species, gecko, found, limestone, karst, formations, northern, madagascar, first, addition, geckolepis, genus, since, 1942, this, species, gecko, largest, scales, known, gecko, detach, them, defence, mechanism, when, predator, attacks, l. Geckolepis megalepis is a species of gecko found in the limestone karst formations of northern Madagascar It is the first addition to the Geckolepis genus since 1942 1 This species of gecko has the largest scales of any known gecko and can detach them as a defence mechanism when a predator attacks leaving the predator with a mouthful of scales rather than itself 1 a character it shares with all other members of the genus Geckolepis Its scales were reported to come away with greater ease than its congeners 1 Geckolepis megalepisA amp B Adults with scales intact C Adult without scalesScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataFamily GekkonidaeGenus GeckolepisSpecies G megalepisBinomial nameGeckolepis megalepisScherz Daza Kohler Vences amp Glaw 2017 Contents 1 Distribution and conservation status 2 Defense mechanism 3 Ecology 4 ReferencesDistribution and conservation status editGeckolepis megalepis was described from Ankarana National Park It is thought to be restricted to the tsingy karst formations of this park It was proposed to be Near Threatened in its original description due to ongoing anthropogenic degradation of its habitat but probable resilience to these changes 1 Defense mechanism editGeckolepis megalepis has remarkably large scales hence the specific epithet megalepis from the Greek words for very large scales and an extreme variation of integumentary autotomy 1 Myofibroblastic contraction in a pre formed splitting zone sheds the keratinized epidermis connective tissues and subcutaneous fat tissue Typical integumentary autotomy in squamates only includes the keratinized epidermis thus distinguishing the de scalation methods of G megalepis Scarless regeneration of the entire denuded integument occurs within several weeks resuming superficial scalation patterns The skin being so easily shed became difficult for scientists attempting captures or studies without causing structural damage to the epidermis Eventually they were able to come up with a way to collect them and discovered that the species scales are dense and mineralized though not recognized by the authors as osteoderms Dermolytic scale autotomy in G megalepis has remained poorly recorded thus far only being witnessed in an anti predator setting with a Blaesodactylus gecko Further documentation of the autotomy process is required to better understand the origins of regeneration and associated morphological characters in Geckolepis 2 Ecology editLittle to nothing is known of the ecology of Geckolepis megalepis except that it is nocturnal arboreal and insectivorous 1 References edit a b c d e f Scherz Mark D Daza Juan D Kohler Jorn Vences Miguel Glaw Frank 2017 Off the scale a new species of fish scale gecko Squamata Gekkonidae Geckolepis with exceptionally large scales PeerJ 5 e2955 doi 10 7717 peerj 2955 PMC 5299998 PMID 28194313 New Species of Gecko with Massive Scales and Tear away Skin Identified 7 February 2017 Retrieved 5 February 2018 nbsp This article about a gecko is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Geckolepis megalepis amp oldid 1188057520, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
