The Gekkonidae Family in Qatar

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Table of Contents

Abstract
Introduction
History and Current Population
Distribution
Family Description
Conclusion
Reference List

Abstract

One of the primary lizard specimens living in Qatar is the Gekkonidae family. This family is represented by nine species, including Bunopus tuberculatus and Cyrtopodion scabrum, the most abundant species in the region. The history of these lizards in the country is understudied. However, it is possible to assume that some species of geckos are native while the others were introduced to the region. Currently, geckos, as well as other lizards, face many problems connected with human development. However, different species of Gekkonidae can be found in every part of Qatar. These lizards are small and mostly nocturnal animals. Their adaptations allow them to live in the low light and low temperatures.

Introduction

The climate of Qatar creates perfect conditions for more than a hundred species of lizards. The family of Gekkonidae, which specimens are mostly called geckos, is one of the primary lizard classes present in the region (Šmíd et al. 2013). While these reptiles can live in almost every part of the world, their concentration in the tropical and dry areas of the Gulf region is exceptionally high. According to Cogălniceanu et al. (2014, p. 67), Gekkonidae is the most “abundant family found in Qatar”. It is represented with nine species, including Bunopus tuberculatus, Cyrtopodion scabrum, Hemidactylus robustus, Stenodactylus arabicus, and Pseudoceramodactylus khobarensis.

The first two of these species are also the most widespread in the region as the number of sightings of these lizards greatly surpasses all other reptiles. The population and distribution of Gekkonidae show the main patterns of the Qatari fauna as lizards can be considered the most populous animals in the region. The objectives of this essay are to explore the history of Gekkonidae, its current population, distribution in Qatar, and some main features.

History and Current Population

While the records of the lizard fauna in Qatar appear in some articles, the families of reptiles present in this country are not studied well. As Cogălniceanu et al. (2014) note, studies that have a comprehensive description of all species of the region may not exist. Furthermore, only a number of articles feature information about some history of reptiles in the area. The authors also point out that a lack of knowledge does not allow one to distinguish native species of lizards from those that were brought into the country. It is possible to assume, however, that the specimens which one can encounter in urban areas are allochtonous – introduced to the region. It is unclear whether this introduction may affect the native species as their differences are not studied enough.

Currently, the rapidly growing human population endangers the biodiversity of lizards in the country. In fact, the rates of urbanization and industrialization in some regions expose reptiles of Qatar to unknown habitats, alien carnivorous species, and pollution of the environment (Simó-Riudalbas et al. 2017). For instance, such animals as cats can hunt lizards and significantly reduce their population. Other issues include habitat destruction and high traffic which results in a high number of road kills. However, it is possible that some species can adapt to human-made environments and continue to live in artificial habitats.

Distribution

The specimens of the Gekkonidae family are dispersed throughout the whole area of Qatar. One of the most numerous species, Bunopus tuberculatus, can be found in virtually any region of the state (Cogălniceanu et al. 2014). Some less abundant species such as Pseudoceramodactylus khobarensis live mostly on Al Saflia. According to Valdeón et al. (2013), many species of sand geckos can be observed on the islands and not on the mainland, which raises some questions about their origins and specific environmental preferences. Lizards of the Gekkonidae family live in urban areas and uninhabited regions.

Family Description

Gekkonidae is a family of small reptiles with soft skin. Almost all species of the family are nocturnal. These lizards are stout and not very long, ranging from approximately 1.5 to 6 inches long (Castilla et al. 2013). Their tails usually take up half of this length. The desert environment of Qatar is a perfect habitat for these reptiles as they have all the necessary modifications to survive in dry surroundings. For instance, most geckos have a unique cover over their eyes to protect the retina from the sand. Similar to most lizards, the reptiles of the Gekkonidae family can draw their tale in unfavorable environments. Then, the tail can regenerate to its former state. The coloring of these lizards usually corresponds to their surroundings. Therefore, the colors range from light brown to gray shades of green and yellow.

Their primarily nocturnal lifestyle can explain another unusual characteristic of these lizards. Geckos have a voice that they use for communication. It is a rather rare feature for lizards, but some of the Gekkonidae species have it (Gamble et al. 2015). The sounds made by these reptiles resemble clicking and chirping noises. Gekkonidae is oviparous as the majority of lizards. Their eggs are white and have a hard shell. Adult specimens lay eggs in places protected from sunlight, for instance, under tree barks or on the underside of leaves.

According to Gamble et al. (2015), Gekkonidae is the only family of lizards which has a majority of nocturnal species. Thus, they have a set of unique features that help them adapt to their lifestyle. These reptiles function in low temperatures and low light. A number of adaptations that define nocturnal geckos are a result of evolution. First of all, these lizards can sustain their ability to move in low temperatures, which helps them to search for provision at night. Moreover, nocturnal species have large eyes with pupils that can focus and dilate in order to see in low light, retinas that do not have foveae, and multifocal color vision (Gamble et al. 2015). In fact, due to these characteristics, their vision is very acute. These adaptations help the reptiles to survive during the nighttime.

Diurnal geckos, on the other hand, have a different set of adaptations in order to survive in warm temperatures and sunlit environments. For instance, they usually have smaller eyes with complete or partial foveae and special crystalline lens proteins that can filter UV-radiation. Interestingly, some scholars believe that diurnal species are younger than their nocturnal counterparts. According to some theories, they have evolved due to changing environments in order to survive in warm climates and sunny weather (Gamble et al. 2015). The authors show that this hypothesis may be correct as the transition of geckos to diurnality can be seen throughout the history of species.

Conclusion

Gekkonidae is a family of lizards that live in many parts of the world. However, their habitat preferences align with the climate of Qatar which is why they can be found in most regions of the country. One of the most numerous species of Gekkonidae is Bunopus tuberculatus. Scholars witnessed these lizards in most parts of the state. However, some other species are only present on the islands, and they should be studied further. These small and stout lizards are primarily represented by nocturnal species which explains their big eyes, acute vision, and acoustic communication. Their current population may be endangered by the rapid development of Qatar’s urban areas which is followed by the destruction of natural habitats and the introduction of new alien species.

Reference List

Castilla, AM, Valdeón, A, Cogălniceanu, D, Gosá, A, Alkuwary, A, Saifelnasr, EO, Al Naimi, S & Al-Hemaidi, AAM 2013, ‘First record of a gecko species to the fauna of Qatar: Hemidactylus persicus Anderson, 1872 (Gekkonidae)’, QScience Connect, vol. 2013, no. 28, p. 1-9.

Cogălniceanu, D, Castilla, AM, Valdeon, A, Gosa, A, Al-Jaidah, N, Alkuwary, A, Saifelnasr, EO, Mas-Peinado, P, Richer, R & Al-Hemaidi, AAM 2014, ‘A preliminary report on the distribution of lizards in Qatar’, ZooKeys, vol. 2014, no. 373, pp. 67-91.

Gamble, T, Greenbaum, E, Jackman, TR & Bauer, AM 2015, ‘Into the light: diurnality has evolved multiple times in geckos’, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, vol. 115, no. 4, pp. 896-910.

Simó-Riudalbas, M, Metallinou, M, de Pous, P, Els, J, Jayasinghe, S, Péntek-Zakar, E, Wilms, T, Al-Saadi, S & Carranza, S 2017, ‘Cryptic diversity in Ptyodactylus (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from the northern Hajar Mountains of Oman and the United Arab Emirates uncovered by an integrative taxonomic approach’, PloS one, vol. 12, no.8, p. e0180397.

Šmíd, J, Carranza, S, Kratochvíl, L, Gvoždík, V, Nasher, AK & Moravec, J 2013, ‘Out of Arabia: a complex biogeographic history of multiple vicariance and dispersal events in the gecko genus Hemidactylus (Reptilia: Gekkonidae)’, PloS one, vol. 8, no. 5, p. e64018.

Valdeón, A, Castilla, AM, Cogălniceanu, D, Gosá, A, Alkuwary, A, Saifelnasr, EOH, Naumann, E, Mas-Peinado, P, Richer, R & Al-Hemaidi, AAM 2013, ‘On the presence and distribution of the Gulf sand gecko, Pseudoceramodactylus khobarensis Haas, 1957 (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Qatar’, QScience Connect, vol. 2013, no. 34, pp. 1-8.

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