Eerie Chuckles Echo in Namib: Researchers Decode Cryptic Screams of Desert Beast

An examination of mating sounds and DNA in the Namib Desert has unveiled that the previously recognized trio of barking gecko species is, in fact, a collection of nine.

In the Namib Desert (South Africa), researchers have achieved a noteworthy zoological finding, elevating the identified count of barking gecko species (suborder Gekkota) from three to nine. The investigation centered on an assessment of their calls (courtship sounds), genetic information, and physical traits of these highly elusive reptiles.

This information comes from Scientific American.

Reason for discovery: Variation in Sound Production

The study was prompted by François Becker, who detected distinctions in the mating calls among geckos inhabiting two adjacent areas. Males produce these vocalizations (resembling “eerie laughter”) close to their lairs to draw in females.

Given that distinct lizard species are recognized for having particular calls that discourage crossbreeding, Becker posited that the variations in the tone and rate of these calls suggested different species, instead of just one (Ptenopus garrulus).

Integrative taxonomy and finding

Becker amassed gecko samples in the Namib Sand Sea and the nearby gravel expanses, where various calls were audible.

The samples underwent genetic sequencing. The outcomes demonstrated that the lizards, formerly believed to represent a single species, lack genetic uniformity. The research spanned the Namib and Kalahari deserts, considering the species’ inclination for diverse ground types.

In a report issued in the journal Vertebrate Zoology, Becker (currently the lead curator at the National Museum of Namibia) concluded that the three recognized species of barking geckos native to South Africa are indeed composed of nine unique species, with some diverging by 25 million years of evolutionary history.

Significance for science

The prolonged grouping of differing species under a solitary designation occurred because geckos seldom venture from their burrows, and they share a remarkable visual similarity.

This finding exemplifies integrative taxonomy, a methodology that harnesses varied forms of information for categorization: form, coloring, sounds, and DNA arrangement, as highlighted by gecko authority Aaron Bauer.

Precise species sorting is vital for gauging their range and favored habitats. “We will draw flawed conclusions if we merge multiple species under a singular title,” Bauer stated.

Source: tsn.ua