Skeletal variation in extant species enables systematic identification of New Zealand's large, subfossil diplodactylids.

摘要: New Zealand’s diplodactylid geckos exhibit high species-level diversity, largely independent of discernible osteological changes. Consequently, systematic affinities isolated skeletal elements (fossils) are primarily determined by comparisons size, particularly in the identification Hoplodactylus duvaucelii, largest extant gecko species. Here, three-dimensional geometric morphometrics maxillae (a common fossilized element) was used to determine whether consistent shape and size differences exist between genera, if cryptic extinctions have occurred subfossil ‘Hoplodactylus cf. duvaucelii’. Sampling included 13 species from five 11 Holocene ‘H. duvaucelii’ individuals. We found phylogenetic history most important predictor maxilla morphology among genera. Size could only differentiate other with remaining genera exhibiting variable degrees overlap. Six subfossils were positively identified as H. confirming their proposed distribution throughout Zealand. Conversely, showed no clear any modern implying either increased morphological diversity mainland or presence at least one extinct, large, broad-toed