Hi,
The cladistics in the Gekkota are quite simple, once you see the divisions.
The Gekkota as a group is characterised by a number of traits (Procoelus
vertebrae, lac of osteoderms f.i.) In there, the first split is made between
the spectacled geckoes and the Eublepharine geckoes.
The spectacled geckoes are split in the Diplodactyline clade (which lay
parchment-shelled eggs and have a various amount of litle bones in the eye.
The parchment shelled eggs would be a more appropriate character when you
like live geckoes. Parchment shelled eggs do allow for 'live-bearing', which
you find occasionally in the Diplo-clade)
The diploclade is then separated in the Pygopods (loss of legs and adaptions
to this more snakelike look, including a longer tongue, but according to my
information, with spectacle!) and the Diplodactyline geckoes. these are
again split in Diplo's and Carphyloetc....
Then, the hardshelled egg-layers (with in most cases just about 14 or 15 of
these littel bones in the eye) are a group of their own, the gekkonids,
which are again split in the real gekkonids and the small, single egg
producing Sphaerodactylids..
Now wheater you want to call the groups that have split off families,
subfamilies or suborders, is just a matter of taste, whatever interesting
filosofies taxonomists come up with. Real cladists have to give every split
its own rank in taxonomy and hence have to come up with a lot of cathegories
in between and beyond. Others can live with less officially named
subdivisions. The only really defined cathegory in taxonomy is the species
and even that is defined in several slightly different manners. There is a
definition for a genus as well, (a group of species with a common ancester
which have a new approach to the difficulties of survival.-- By this
definition, you could make a division between egg-glueing Phelsuma's and the
nonglueing species. I bet it will be made one of these days..--)
If you have mannaged to read this so far, keep in mind my it has been nearly
fifteen years ago I studied this gekkonid Taxonomy for real, that is, to get
a degree in Biology. I might have missed something in between..
Peter Mudde
Hoofdredactie 'onder het Palmblad'
see : www.palmblad.com
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