New phylogeographic insights for the Saurodactylus brosseti species complex: range extensions and additional contact zones among evolutionary lineages

What is it about?

Morocco is home to many unique reptiles, but some regions haven’t been fully explored, so we need more research to understand where different species are found. Studies have shown that some gecko species are more diverse than we once thought. For example, the lizard-fingered gecko known as Saurodactylus brosseti, which was previously considered one species, has now been divided into five separate species. In this study, we analysed DNA from geckos in new areas to map their distributions and identify places where different species might overlap. We found that two species are found further west than previously known and identified areas where these species might come into contact with one another. These findings help us better understand how these species have evolved and how they interact with each other.

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