Testing the island effect on phenotypic diversification: insights from the Hemidactylus geckos of the Socotra Archipelago

Island colonization does not universally trigger extreme phenotypic diversification, as demonstrated by the Hemidactylus geckos of Socotra. While insular species exhibit more pronounced body size variation and accelerated evolutionary rates compared to continental groups, head proportions show consistent evolution across both environments. This study challenges the assumption that islands always promote higher morphological disparity, revealing complex patterns where different traits evolve differently even within the same mainland-island system.

Garcia-Porta, J., Šmíd, J., Sol, D., Fasola, M., & Carranza, S. (2016). Testing the island effect on phenotypic diversification: insights from the Hemidactylus geckos of the Socotra Archipelago. Scientific Reports, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep23729