Chromosomal Evolution in the Diplodactylinae (Gekkonidae, Reptilia) .2. Chromosomal Variability Between New Caledonian Species

Abstract

The karotypes of six species of New Caledonian gekkos from the genera Rhacodactylus and Bavayia are described. The chromosomes of R. auriculatus, R. sarasinorum and B. sauvagei share a highly derived biarmed 2n=38 karyomorph, which is common to species from both New Zealand and Australia and is believed to be a relic from a previous Gondwanaland distribution. In contrast, R. leachianus, B. crassicollis and B. montana have karyotypes further modified from this karyomorph by a series of presumed pericentric inversions. This chromosomal repatterning appears to have been associated with the speciation of this complex. A chromosomal perspective on Kluge's (1987) recent reclassification of the Diplodactylinae is also provided and discussed.