NEW PAPER - PINE ISLAND LOCALITY

[Andrea IGA]

Here a new study on record data for 4 species of Diplodactylidae.

Obviously, Mniarogekko chahoua are the main interest. Since 2012 the status of the species was concerned. Now, after Exoterra report from 2013, another survey with GPS data show the presence f this species on Pine Island, with questions about eventual spread on other satellites islets around PI.


Have fun!

 

[Canvas_geckos]

Sadly it won’t let me read this from my mobile device

 

[Little Chahoua]

I want to thank you for given us the info. best luck

 

[Andrea IGA]

Thanks!
Everything needed to make more scientific and clear the ecology of the species, is a pleasure for me!

 

[Michael]

OK I finally got around to reading this... @Andrea IGA thank you for sharing. I so appreciate you keeping us abreast of the field developments.

Lots of interesting things to digest in this paper... one of the most interesting is that perhaps Rhacodactylus trachycephalus is more common and less endangered than we thought.

Some other interesting points:

• Chahoua were thought to mostly inhabit the undisturbed, deeper forests but were found in more urban areas, closer to tourist destinations.
• Authors note that there are likely other populations of chahoua on Ile des Pines but would need more surveying to confirm
• Chahoua were found 8-10 meters high in trees and on vines
• The one chahoua that is photographed is tailless. Of course, it could be a recent tail loss, but it also makes me wonder about the theory that only PI regrow tails. This one did not..?

 

[Andrea IGA]

Good question.
As far as I know, every wc animals from PI had/have no tail, I remember Tracy saying that a PI from her had an incomplete autotomy, but the portion of the tail, seemed to regrow back.
I don't have a conclusion on this..

 

[Little Chahoua]

Dang I got this backwards .. I thought the mainlands only regrows the tail?

 

[Andrea IGA]

Theorically... But, without genetic analysis and studies, who knows 100% for shure?