High genetic differentiation within the Hemidactylus turcicus complex (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) in the Levant, with comments on the phylogeny and systematics of the genus

Abstract

The molecular phylogeny of Hemidactylus turcicus (sensu lato) and related Levantine taxa of Hemidactylus geckos were studied using mitochondrial DNA sequence data. On the basis of the obtained phylogenies, genetic divergences and morphological comparisons, the subspecies H. turcicus lavadeserticus is elevated to full species level and the unnamed Hemidactylus clade is described as a new species, H. dawudazraqi sp. n.

Keywords

• Reptilia
• Gekkonidae
• Hemidactylus
• Molecular Phylogeny
• Near East