COMMUNAL NESTING AND SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN THE MICROENDEMIC GECKO FROM MEXICO Phyllodactylus delcampoi (GEKKOTA: PHYLLODACTYLIDAE)

Diego Miguel Arenas Moreno; Adán Bautista-del Moral; Arnulfo Villanueva Castro; Fausto Roberto Méndez de la Cruz

doi:10.22201/fc.25942158e.2025.1.1058

Authors

Diego Miguel Arenas Moreno
Adán Bautista-del Moral Laboratorio de Herpetología, Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Arnulfo Villanueva Castro
Fausto Roberto Méndez de la Cruz

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22201/fc.25942158e.2025.1.1058

Keywords:

Guerrero state, natural history, parental care, Phyllodactylus delcampoi, tropical dry forest

Abstract

Phyllodactylus consists of nocturnal, oviparous geckos that inhabit rocky areas in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, including Mexico. Despite their abundance, knowledge about their natural history is scarce. Here, we documented some reproductive aspects of P. delcampoi, a microendemic gecko from the tropical dry forests of Guerrero, Mexico. We found a communal nest with 18 eggs inside a granite rock crevice. Although communal nesting is known in various gecko species, this is the first documented case in a Mexican lizard species. Communal nesting may be associated with rocky habitats and high individual abundance, as observed in the study species. Furthermore, we found an adult individual that frequently remained close to the surroundings of the community nest, which suggests parental care in P. delcampoi. Additionally, we recorded morphometric measurements to determine sexual dimorphism and found that males are larger and heavier than females.

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