Tag

Gecko

All articles tagged with #gecko

science1 day ago•3 min saved

Tiny Hairs, Mighty Grip: Gecko Feet Under the Microscope

ScienceAlert's Microscope Mystery reveals that the “forest” image is the underside of a gecko's foot: each toe is covered in hundreds of thousands of hairlike setae that branch into spatulae, enabling strong adhesion through van der Waals forces without glue; the combined grip could theoretically support about 133 kilograms, and geckos detach by peeling their toes at a precise angle—SEM imagery (colored afterward) shows this microscopic adhesive network that researchers are trying to mimic in synthetic adhesives.

via ScienceAlert|

#biology #gecko #microscopy

paleontology1 month ago•8 min saved

Ancient Burmese Amber Gecko Reveals Earliest Known Male Reproductive Feature

Paleontologists describe Carinasquama rusmithii, a newly named genus and species of tiny gecko from roughly 99-million-year-old Kachin amber in Myanmar. One specimen bears a hemipenal bulge at the base of its tail, the external sign of male reproductive organs, making this among the oldest lizard fossils confidently identified as male. Scientists reconstructed the skeletons via micro-CT, noting skin details preserved in amber and tentatively placing the species within Pan-Gekkota. The find provides rare evidence of male Squamata anatomy from the mid-Cretaceous.

via Sci.News|

#carinasquama-rusmithii #gecko #hemipenal-bulge

science5 months ago•8 min saved

Limestone caves in Cambodia reveal a treasure trove of new species

A Fauna & Flora-led survey across more than 60 caves in Battambang Province's karst landscape uncovered multiple previously unknown species, including several geckos (Gehyra, Dixonius noctivagus and Cyrtodactylus kampingpoiensis), a new pit viper, and other cave-dwelling creatures such as millipedes, a reticulated python, a brown tree frog and an ornate flying snake, underscoring Cambodia's karst ecosystems as a hotspot for biodiversity and undiscovered life.

via The Guardian|

#biodiversity #cambodia #gecko

science1 year ago•5 min saved

Eight-Year Search Yields Three New Gecko Species

After eight years of research, three new gecko species have been discovered in Namibia's neighboring Angola, highlighting the region's rich and previously underexplored reptile diversity. The discoveries were supported by detailed morphological and genetic analyses, emphasizing the importance of museum specimens for future research and conservation efforts. These findings underscore Angola's emerging status as a hotspot for endemic rock-dwelling reptiles and the significance of integrated fieldwork and genetic tools in uncovering biodiversity.

via Earth.com|

#angola #biodiversity #dna-analysis

science1 year ago•4 min saved

Animals' 'Sixth Sense' Reveals New Insights into Sound Perception

Research reveals that tokay geckos use their inner ear saccule to detect ground-borne vibrations, suggesting an ancient vibration pathway linked to balance also contributes to hearing, which may reshape understanding of animal perception and evolution.

via Earth.com|

#animal-senses #evolutionary-biology #gecko

science3 years ago•2 min saved

Newly Discovered Species with Triangular Head Found in Vietnam's Cliffs.

A new species of gecko, Hemiphyllodactylus lungcuensis, has been discovered in the cliffs of northern Vietnam. The Lungcu slender gecko has a "triangular" head and a "brown sand" coloring with "irregular dark brown streaks." The new species was identified based on its body shape and DNA analysis, which found it had anywhere from about 4% to about 20% genetic divergence from other known gecko species. The researchers say further field research is required to uncover the unrealized diversity of geckos in northern Vietnam.

via Yahoo News|

#biodiversity #dna-analysis #gecko