Cyrtopodion Research Articles

Karyological study of the Caspian bent-toed Gecko Cyrtopodion caspium (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from North and North-Eastern of Iran

The diploid number among Gekkonid lizards ranges from 2n=16 to 2n=46. The majority of geckos' chromosomes are small which makes the study of their chromosomes very difficult. For this reason, karyotype of Cyrtopodion caspium and some similar gecko are still not known. The close relatives of C. caspium have variation in the chromosomal number in their populations. So to find out possible variability among these populations in Iran. We described the karyotype of testis and bone marrow of 14 specimens of this species from seven provinces and 10 localities in north and north-eastern parts of Iran in 2011. They showed 2n=38 for all populations. There is not intraspecific chromosome polymorphism in Cyrtopodion caspium. The karyotype consists of one pair of metacentric element and 17 pairs of telocentric or subtelocentric elements and one pair of three arm chromosomes. The number of haploid chromosomes was 21 for three male specimens. The chromatid separation did not show heteromorphic sex chromosomes. Our results highlight the need for continued research into the basic biology and taxonomy of Cyrtopodion caspium in Iran.

The oogenic cycle of the Caspian bent-toed gecko, Cyrtopodion caspium (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Iran

The Caspian bent-toed gecko, Cyrtopodion caspium , is one of the commonest lizards in northern Iran. It is nocturnal, anthropophile and oviparous. In this study, the reproductive cycle of this species was studied by focusing on oogenesis, from April 5 to October 20, 2011. In total, 70 adult females were obtained from Mazandaran, one of the northern provinces of Iran where the climate is temperate. Ovaries were removed and processed for histological and morphometric studies. The results show that oocyte growth starts in late April and ends in August. Mating starts in spring, especially at the beginning of May, with oviposition occurring from late May to mid August. Females lay 1-2 eggs per clutch with the possibility of producing a secondary clutch later in the season. Maximum reproductive activity occurs in May and peaks in June. There was no significant difference between right and left side of reproductive system. With oogenesis occurring from April through July, C. caspium follows an oogenic cycle typical for temperate species.

The Microanatomy of Regenerated Bristled Receptors of Two Gecko Species, Cyrtopodion fedtschenkoi and Sphaerodactylus roosevelti (Reptilia: Gekkonidae)

The microanatomy of regenerated cutaneous bristled receptors of two geckos, Cyrtopodion fedtschenkoi and Sphaerodactylus roosevelti , were described and compared with the same data on the iguanian lizards. The small receptors of the geckos examined (13 – 19 μm in diameter) consist of a dermal papilla and one or two modified germinative cells. Every receptor has up to three very thin bristles of an acellular structure. Comparison of the size, microanatomy and histochemistry of regenerated bristles in the receptors of agamids, Madegascan iguanas, and geckos makes it possible to assume the independent origin of the bristled receptors in the lizard groups listed.

A New Species of Thin-Toed Geckos Cyrtopodion sensu lato (Squamata: Sauria: Gekkonidae) from Balochistan Province, South Pakistan

A new species of the geckonid genus Cyrtopodion s. l. — C. belaense is described from Las Bela District, Balochistan Province, Pakistan. It is distinguished from other Cyrtopodion s. l. by the combination of the following characters: (1) small body size, maximal SVL 40.5 mm, (2) 12 – 13 longitudinal rows large strongly keeled trihedral dorsum tubercles, (3) ventral scales in 22 rows between ventrolateral skin folds, (4) nine preanal pores and lacking femoral pores, (5) enlarged median subcaudals, (6) head sufficiently short and high with very big eyes and short rostral part, (7) limbs very thin and elongate, (9) 6 – 7 dark width bands on tail, interspaces between them noticeable bigger than the width of stripes. These bands also visible on the sucaudal surface of tail.

On the occurrence of Cyrtopodion heterocercus mardinensis and Pseudocerastes persicus fieldi in Syria

Abstract The gecko Cyrtopodion heterocercus mardinensis is recorded from Syria for the first time, and the Persian Homed Viper Pseudocerates persicus fieldi for the second time.