Development of the Subdigital Adhesive Pads of Ptyodactyhs guttatus (Reptilia: Gekkonidae)
Date
1992
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Abstract
Subdigital adhesive pads play an important role in the locomotion
of many species of gekkonid lizards. These pads consist of integrated
components derived from the epidermis, dermis, vascular system, subcuticular
tendons, and phalanges. These components become intimately associated with
each other during the developmental differentiation of the digits and the
sequence of this integration is outlined herein in Ptyodactylus guttatus. The
pads initially appear as paired swellings at the distal tips of the digits. Subsequently,
a fan-like array of naked scansors develops on the ventral surface of
each digit, at about the same time that scales differentiate over the surface of
the foot as a whole. At the time of appearance of the naked scansors, the
vascular sinus system of the pad also differentiates, along with subcuticular
connective tissue specializations. At this stage the digits, along with the rest of
the body, are clad in an embryonic periderm. Only after hatching and as the
periderm is shed, do the epidermal setae and spines appear. The developmental
sequence described here is consistent with predictions previously advanced
about the evolutionary origin and elaboration of subdigital pads in gekkonid
lizards. The paucity of available staged embryonic material leaves many questions
unresolved.
Description
Keywords
Biology
Citation
HERBERT I. ROSENBERG, ANTHONY P. RUSSELL AND MICHAEL J. CAVEY "Development of the Subdigital Adhesive Pads of Ptyodactyhs guttatus (Reptilia: Gekkonidae)" JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY 211:243-258 (1992)