LOS GECKOS DE CHILE (SCLEROGLOSSA, GEKKONIDAE, GEKKONINAE). PARTE II. BIOGEOGRAFÍA Y CAMBIOS ONTOGENÉTICOS EN EL PATRÓN DE COLORACIÓN DE PHYLLODACTYLUS GERRHOPYGUS. PUEDE LA EVIDENCIA SOSTENER LA PRESENCIA DE PHYLLODACTYLUS INAEQUALIS EN CHILE?

Research on Chilean gekkonid lizards remains largely ignored. Only a few studies have focused in the specific analysis of the known populations. As a consequence, several fundamental aspects of the biological structure of this group are still a mystery. Indeed, in spite of the scarce number of taxa reported in Chile, it is hard to draw on more detailed conclusions about the species diversity in this territory. The genus Phyllodactylus, restricted to the northern deserts, has commonly been recognized on the basis of three species: P gerrhopygus, P heterurus and P inaequalis. Nonetheless, different studies often claim divergent opinions about the status of these taxa. In the present contribution, I analyze those populations identified as P. gerrhopygus and P inaequalis, which would be characterized by different colour patterns and distributions. However my results suggest that both taxa represent only one widespread species. The contrasting observed colour patterns can be explained as a consequence of ontogenetic shifts. Therefore, I conclude that the presence of P. inaequalis in Chile has been based on juvenile individuals of P. gerrhopygus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]