More geckos, fewer gaps: diversity and distribution of Hemidactylus geckos (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Jordan

Abstract

Until relatively recently, the gecko species Hemidactylus turcicus was believed to be the only member of the genus to occur in Jordan. Later taxonomic treatments confirmed the presence of another two species in the country – H. dawudazraqi and H. mindiae. It has been more than 10 years now since the last study on species of the genus Hemidactylus in Jordan was published and the distribution limits of the different species remain unknown. To shed light on the geographic and genetic boundaries between the species and different populations we collected material from across Jordan and sequenced each sample for two mitochondrial genes to provide identification by means of DNA barcoding. The results of phylogenetic analyses of species that occur in Jordan and neighbouring countries allowed us to assess the level of inter- and intraspecific genetic diversity of Hemidactylus in the region. Based on our results we confirm the presence of two species that were previously not known from the country – H. granosus and H. lavadeserticus. We also found another genetic lineage to be present in Jordan, implying that there may be yet another undescribed species of Hemidactylus present in Jordan. The results of this study will help to clarify the distribution of Hemidactylus species in Jordan and enable better delineation of the boundaries between the individual species.