Evolution and Systematics
Functional Adaptations
Functional adaptation
Feet self-clean: Tokay gecko
"A tokay gecko can cling to virtually any surface and support its body mass with a single toe by using the millions of keratinous setae on its toe pads. Each seta branches into hundreds of 200-nm spatulae that make intimate contact with a variety of surface profiles. We showed previously that the combined surface area of billions of spatulae maximizes van der Waals interactions to generate large adhesive and shear forces. Geckos are not known to groom their feet yet retain their stickiness for months between molts. How geckos manage to keep their feet clean while walking about with sticky toes has remained a puzzle until now. Although self-cleaning by water droplets occurs in plant and animal surfaces, no adhesive has been shown to self-clean. In the present study, we demonstrate that gecko setae are a self-cleaning adhesive. Geckos with dirty feet recovered their ability to cling to vertical surfaces after only a few steps. Self-cleaning occurred in arrays of setae isolated from the gecko. Contact mechanical models suggest that self-cleaning occurs by an energetic disequilibrium between the adhesive forces attracting a dirt particle to the substrate and those attracting the same particle to one or more spatulae. We propose that the property of self-cleaning is intrinsic to the setal nanostructure and therefore should be replicable in synthetic adhesive materials in the future."(Hansen 2005:385)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
The feet of gecko self-clean due to energetic equilibrium--its foot has less physical attraction to dust than most surfaces.
"A tokay gecko can cling to virtually any surface and support its body mass with a single toe by using the millions of keratinous setae on its toe pads. Each seta branches into hundreds of 200-nm spatulae that make intimate contact with a variety of surface profiles. We showed previously that the combined surface area of billions of spatulae maximizes van der Waals interactions to generate large adhesive and shear forces. Geckos are not known to groom their feet yet retain their stickiness for months between molts. How geckos manage to keep their feet clean while walking about with sticky toes has remained a puzzle until now. Although self-cleaning by water droplets occurs in plant and animal surfaces, no adhesive has been shown to self-clean. In the present study, we demonstrate that gecko setae are a self-cleaning adhesive. Geckos with dirty feet recovered their ability to cling to vertical surfaces after only a few steps. Self-cleaning occurred in arrays of setae isolated from the gecko. Contact mechanical models suggest that self-cleaning occurs by an energetic disequilibrium between the adhesive forces attracting a dirt particle to the substrate and those attracting the same particle to one or more spatulae. We propose that the property of self-cleaning is intrinsic to the setal nanostructure and therefore should be replicable in synthetic adhesive materials in the future."(Hansen 2005:385)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
- Hansen WR; Autumn K. 2005. Evidence for self-cleaning in gecko setae. 102(2): 385-389.
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Barcode
Locations of barcode samples
Collection Sites: world map showing specimen collection locations for Gekko 
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Statistics of barcoding coverage
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
| Specimen Records: | 65 |
| Specimens with Sequences: | 57 |
| Specimens with Barcodes: | 57 |
| Public Records: | 37 |
| Species: | 13 |
| Species With Barcodes: | 13 |
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Barcode data
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Molecular Biology
Statistics of barcoding coverage: Gekko cf. hokouensis
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Species: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1
Public Records: 0
Species: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1
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Wikipedia
Gekko
For other uses, see Gekko (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with gecko.
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2008) |
Gekko is a genus of colorful and diverse Southeast Asian geckos commonly known as true geckos or calling geckos. Although species such as the Tokay Gecko are very widespread and common, some species in the same genus have a very small range and are considered rare or endangered.
Classification of genus Gekko
- Brown's Gecko, Gekko athymus
- Shanxi Gecko, Gekko auriverrucosus[citation needed]
- Gekko badenii Szczerbak & Nekrasova, 1994
- Gekko canaensis Ngo & Gamble, 2011[1]
- Gekko canhi: Tắc kè Gekko canhi [2]
- Gekko carusadensis[3]
- Gray's Chinese Gecko, Gekko chinensis[citation needed]
- Tokay Gecko, Gekko gecko
- Giant Gecko, Gekko gigante[citation needed]
- Gekko grossmanni Gunther, 1994
- Kwangsi Gecko, Gekko hokouensis
- Schlegel's Japanese Gecko, Gekko japonicus
- Botel Gecko, Gekko kikuchii
- Lauhachinda's Cave Gecko, Gekko lauhachindai Panitvong et al., 2010[4]
- Gekko mindorensis
- Spotted House Gecko, Gekko monarchus
- Gekko nutaphandi
- Palawan Gecko, Gekko palawanensis
- Palm Gecko, Gekko palmatus
- Sandstone Gecko, Gekko petricolus Taylor, 1962
- Taylor's Gecko, Gekko porosus
- Philippine Gecko, Gekko romblon
- Gekko russelltraini Ngo et al., 2009
- Yunnan Gecko, Gekko scabridus
- Gekko scientiadventura Rosler et al., 2005
- Siamese Green-eyed Gecko, Gekko siamensis
- Gekko similignum
- Smith's Green-eyed Gecko, Gekko smithii
- Southern Palm Gecko, Gekko subpalmatus
- Peking Gecko, Gekko swinhonis
- Mingtao's Gecko, Gekko taibaiensis
- Gekko takouensis Ngo & Gamble, 2010
- Tawa Gecko, Gekko tawaensis
- Gekko taylori
- Golden Gecko, Gekko ulikovskii
- Gekko verreauxi
- Gekko vietnamensis [5]
- Lined Gecko, Gekko vittatus
- Gekko wenxianensis Zhou & Wang, 2008
- Yakushima Gecko, Gekko yakuensis
References
- ^ "Gekko canaensis sp. nov. (Squamata: Gekkonidae), a new gecko from southern Vietnam." (in English language) (Pdf) (Press release). Zootaxa 2890: 53-64.. 25 May 2011. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2011/f/z02890p064f.pdf.
- ^ Rösler, H. et al. 2010: A new species of the genus Gekko Laurenti (Squamata: Sauria: Gekkonidae) from Vietnam with remarks on G. japonicus (Schlegel). Zootaxa, 2329: 56–68. Preview
- ^ Linkem, C.W.; Siler, C.D.; Diesmos, A.C.; Sy, E.; Brown, R.M. 2010: A new species of Gekko (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from central Luzon Island, Philippines. Zootaxa, 2396: 37–49. Preview
- ^ Panitvong, N., Sumontha, M., Konlek, K., & Kunya, K. (2010). "Gekko lauhachindai sp. nov., a new cave-dwelling gecko (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from central Thailand." Zootaxa. 2671: 40–52.
- ^ A new poreless species of Gekko Laurenti, 1768 (Gekkonidae: Squamata) from An Giang Province, southern Vietnam Nguyễn Ngọc Sang, Zootaxa (10/6/2010)
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