Comparative morphometric analysis of the green smooth- scaled gecko (Pseudogekko smaragdinus, Taylor 1992) from Polilio Island, Philippines

Date

5-2008

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Major Course

Major in Wildlife Biology

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez

Abstract

Green smooth-scaled geckos (Pseudogekko smaragdinus, Taylor 1922) are restricted and locally common on lowland forests in Polillo Island, Philippines. Little is known about the biology and habits of this cryptic gekkonid, currently categorized as near-threatened. A total of 44 individuals were sampled in 2006 from 20 transacts on heavily-disturbed forest in Anibawan, Burdeos municipality and less-disturbed forest in Lipata, Panukulan municipality. More geckos were found in Anibawan (25) than in Lipata (19), both on leaf-axils of herbaceous under-storey plants (i.e., Pandanus Alocasia sp., Musa sp.) scattered along streams and rivulets. Adults preferred screw-pines (Pandanus sp.) for laying paired eggs. Principal components analysis was used to differentiate the morphometrie characters of 30 geckos based on sex and habitat disturbance, with tail length and snout-vent length contributing the most variation (Tail Length 79.545%; Snout-Vent Length 12.799%). Results showed no significant variation between sexes and differences between heavily-disturbed (scattered) and less-disturbed (clumped) sites were generally small. Individuals exhibited little morphometric variation based on sex and habitat disturbance, providing implications on their survival in degraded forests and intrinsic value of under-storey plants as preferred microhabitats. Further studies on density, diet and distribution of microhabitats are necessary to evaluate the conservation status of this island-endemic gecko.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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