Leaf tailed geckos (Uroplatus sp.) are noctural geckos endemic to Madagascar. They are specialists in camouflage – often resembling the tree bark that they rest on during the day. As these species are cryptic, researchers are now investigating ways to use DNA sequences to identify species in the field (Nagy et al., 2012)
[Photo and caption by Meredith Lutz]
Reference:
Nagy, Z. T., Sonet, G., Glaw, F., & Vences, M. (2012). First large-scale DNA barcoding assessment of reptiles in the biodiversity hotspot of Madagascar, based on newly designed COI primers. PloS One, 7, e34506.
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