Origin and in situ diversification in Hemidactylus geckos of the Socotra Archipelago

Research reveals that the Hemidactylus geckos of Socotra Archipelago, a Gondwanan fragment and biodiversity hotspot, do not form a monophyletic group but instead branch into three independent clades. This suggests their origin involved an Early Miocene vicariance event followed by two Pliocene transoceanic dispersals. Genetic analysis of seven non-introduced species shows high intra-species divergence and complex within-island diversification patterns, indicating a mix of historical and ecological factors drove speciation. Notably, the case of H. forbesii and H. oxyrhinus on Abd al Kuri island may represent an extreme example of intra-island speciation in reptiles.

GÓMEZ‐DÍAZ, E., SINDACO, R., PUPIN, F., FASOLA, M., & CARRANZA, S. (2012). Origin and in situ diversification in Hemidactylus geckos of the Socotra Archipelago. Molecular Ecology, 21(16), 4074–4092. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294x.2012.05672.x