AC – Comparative Anatomy, Musée d‘Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France; CA – Cold Archive, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany; MK – Museum Koenig, Bonn, Germany; ZMB – Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science (former Zoologisches Museum Berlin), Berlin, Germany.

The study organism Hemidactylus is a yet unidentified species based on a pregnant female which was collected in Sudan in 2011 (Fig. 1; ZMB 87075 to 87077; Kirchhof et al. work in progress). Live animals are housed in an animal-care facility at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin; dead animals are preserved in alcohol in the herpetological collection and the Cold Archive at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. Temperature in the breeding room is set to 26-28 °C and photoperiod is maintained at 12 hours daylight: 12 hours of darkness. Seasonal cycles are not mimicked. Animals are fed with house crickets (Acheta domesticus), fruits, vitamins and calcium powder twice weekly. Females are allowed to oviposit naturally. Eggs are laid in clutches of one to two. Duration of post-ovipositional development is approximately 60 days, comparable to that of the Madagascar Ground Gecko Paroedura pictus (Noro et al. 2009). Embryos were sacrificed in accordance with German Law on Tierschutzgesetz, and TierSchVersV. Embryos were fixed in 4 % pFA in 1X Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for 24 h to 48 h, depending on size, dehydrated and stored in 100 % methanol at -20 °C in the Cold Archive at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (Tab. 1).

µCT scans were performed using a Phoenix nanotom X-ray|s at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (Suppl. material 1: SOM Tab. 1). Scans were reconstructed to a 3D volume using datos|x (Version 2.0, GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH phoenix|x-ray). Data were analyzed and visualized with VolumeGraphics Studio Max (Version 2.2., Volume Graphics). Scanned hands were from an adult specimen (Fig. 2; ZMB 87075, SVL 42 mm, over one year old), and a juvenile (Fig. 5C; ZMB 87077, SVL 17 mm, two days old). Datasets and models are deposited here https://doi.org/10.7479/qs1j-mnjp.

Figure 2. 

Overview of embryonic developmental stages A to F, erected in this study. Stage A is depicted in (A, B) and represented by CA2017_007. (C, D) show the representative CA2017_003 for stage B. Stage C (E–G) is represented by CA2017_006. CA2017_005 represents stage D in (H–J). Note the immunohistochemistry for SOX9 expression in a limb cross section in (J). Stage E is shown in (K–L), represented by CA2017_010. CA2017_012 represents stage F in (M-O). Except for (J), all pictures in lateral view. Scale bars equal 1mm. Abbreviations: aer – apical ectodermal ridge; au – autopod; cc – cartilage capsule; cf – choroid fissure; en – external nares; ep – eye pigmentation; fp – frontal nasal process; ha – hyoid arch; lb – limb bud; ll – lateral lines; mda – mandibular arch; mxa – maxillary process; oc – optic cup; of – olfactory pit; op – otic pit; pa – pharyngeal arches; st – stylopod; tc – thorac cavity; zu – zeugopod.

Figure 3. 

Overview of embryonic developmental stages G to L, erected in this study, including µCT data. Stage G is shown in (A–C), its representative is CA2017_004. CA2017_011 represents stage H in (D–F). (G–I) show stage I represented by CA2017_014. Stage J is depicted in (J–M), represented by CA2017_008. Stage K is CA2017_013 and shown in (N, O). (P–R) show CA2017_002 for stage L. (B) and (E) are in cranial view, (R) in dorsal view, and all others in lateral view. Scale bars equal 1mm. Abbreviations: at – adhesive toepads; ca – cornea; cw – claw formation; l – lens; np – nose pit; ot – otic capsule; s – scansors; sp – swollen pads; ub – urogenital bud; ws – wrinkly skin.

Figure 4. 

µCT images of the manus of an adult Hemidactylus (ZMB 87075). Left (A) and right (B, C) manus in dorsal (A, B) and ventral (C) view. Large lateral paraphalanges are shown in red, small nubbin-like ones laterally and dorsally in orange, and ventral ones in yellow. Note the reduced antepenultimate in pink in (B, C). Scale bar is 500 µm. Abbreviations: dc – distal carpals; m – metacarpals; p –pisiform; pp – paraphalanges; R – radius; r – radiale; rp – reduced phalanges; U – ulna; u – ulnare; 1-5 – phalanges 1-5; I-V – digits I-V.

Figure 5. 

Forelimb of juvenile Hemidactylus, stained with azan (A, B) and scanned by µCT (C). (A) and (C) are of the hatchling ZMB 87077 (cross section no. in A is A5_F_13a), and (B) of the juvenile ZMB 87076 (cross section no. A4_F_21a). Note the yet unossified paraphalanges in both. In contrast, reduced phalangeal elements have started ossifying. Radius and ulna are not yet fully ossified, and carpal elements are as yet unossified. Numericals indicate: 1 – trapezium; 2 – metacarpal; 3 – phalanx; 4 – paraphalanx; 5 – metacarpal; 6 – phalanx; 7 – paraphalanx. Scale bars in (A) and (B) equal 200 µm, and scale bar in (C) is 550 µm.

We used two histo-technological procedures: (i) azan stained microtome paraffin sections and (ii) ground petrographic sections.

For azan staining, limbs were embedded (Leica EG 1160 and Shandon Hypercenter XP) in paraffin, and sectioned with a microtome (Leica 2000R). Sections were treated following the standard protocol by Heidenhain. In detail, sections were washed or immersed in xylene paraffin (ten minutes), xylene (twice five minutes), aniline alcohol (five minutes), wash in aquadest, azocarmine (25 minutes), wash in aquadest, wash in acetic acid, and 5 % phosphotungstic acid (two times 20 seconds), one to three hours in 5 % phosphotungstic acid. Hereafter, the tissue was placed in the aniline blue orange dye (4.5 minutes), washed with aquadest, 96 % alcohol, absolute alcohol, and finally four times xylene for five minutes each. Azan stains both bone and cartilage: dark blue indicates bone and light blue cartilage. Red indicates muscle fibers, and the nuclei are stained dark red. A forelimb of a hatchling (Fig. 5A; cross section no. A5_F_13a, specimen ZMB 87077) and a juvenile (Fig. 5B; cross section no. A4_F_21a, specimen ZMB 87076, SVL 33 mm, one year old), and an adult (Fig. 6B, D, E; ZMB 87078, SVL 47 mm, over one year old) were embedded in paraffin and sectioned. Cross sections are stored at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin.

For ground sections (Fig. 6A, C), macerated bones were dehydrated in 70 % alcohol for 48 hours and embedded in epoxy resin (Araldite 2020), cut along the desired surface, mounted on glass slides and ground to a thickness of 75 to 50 µm. To enhance contrast, prevent detachment due to rehydration and generally protect the section, a coverslip was added. Femoral sections of Iguana iguana (AC1896 288), Varanus timorensis (MK52920) and Tupinambis teguixin (MK53531) were studied at the histotheca facilities of the Museum d‘Histoire Naturell in Paris.

Figure 6. 

Bone histology of Hemidactylus long bones. Adult specimen CA2017_001 (cross section no. H63_FR_B5; A, C), ZMB 87078 (cross section no. A12_FL_6b, one year old, SVL 47 mm; B, D, E), and developmental stage I specimen CA2017_015 (F) and CA2017_014 (G). (A–E) Longitudinal sections (HE staining) of the humeral shaft showing a clear pattern of alternating bone lamellae in the periosteal cortex and remodeling in the endosteal region. (C) Close-up of boxed area in (A). (D, E) Magnification of cortical bone of similar areas in (B). (F, G) Onset of ossification in individuals, 25 days before hatching, as seen in histological sections (F) and µCT scans (G). Abbreviations: eb – endosteal bone; f – femur; h – humerus; hl – Howship lacunae; mc – medullary cavity; pb – periosteal bone; r – radius; u – ulna. Scale bars in (A, B) equal 200 µm, in (C–E) 100 µm, in (F) 500 µm, and 1 mm in (G).

Photographs of embryos were taken with a Leica M205C camera. Photomicrographs for histomorphometric analysis of lamellar bone apposition rates were taken on a Zeiss Axioskop (HBO 50) with Leica firecam (DFC 420) and processed in a Leica Application Suite. All measurements were taken using ImageJ (Rasband 1997) (Tabs 1, 2).

Immunohistochemistry was performed on sections, with a rabbit polyclonal anti-Sox9 antibody (Merck Millipore). SOX9 is an early marker of cartilage, tendons and ligaments (Sugimoto et al. 2013). Samples were deparaffinized in xylene and rehydrated through ethanol steps into 1X PBS. Antigen retrieval was accomplished by citrate buffer treatment (pH = 6.0). Protease XXV treatment (Thermo Scientific) for 15 min was followed by non-specific binding with 5 % goat serum (Sigma). Primary antibody (polyclonal, rabbit, Millipore) was incubated overnight. Staining was achieved by DAPI and Fluoroshield (Sigma).

A morphological staging table of Hemidactylus establishing twelve post-ovipositional developmental stages is presented here (Figs 2, 3; Tab. 1). For this purpose, differences in pharyngeal arches, otic pit, olfactory pit, optic cup, and other characters are studied in detail. In the following, each stage is presented listing key features which have been established in other squamate staging tables and which have been considered suitable for characterizing the ontogenetic development (Tab. 3; e.g. Noro et al. 2009, Wise et al. 2009, Khannoon 2015).

Figure 7. 

Lamellar bone histology and endosteal remodeling in other squamate lizards. (A) Cross section of an Iguana iguana femur (AC1896 288). (B) Cross section of a Varanus timorensis femur (MK52920). (C) Cross section of Tupinambis teguixin femur (MK53531). All images were taken under cross polarized light. Note the cross cutting relations in the endosteal bone of V. timorensis and Tupinambis. Also note the more extensive layer of remodeling with secondary osteons in the innermost cortex of Tupinambis. Abbreviations: eb – endosteal bone; pb – periosteal bone; so – secondary osteon. Scale bar in (A) equals 1 mm, in (B) 250 µm, and in (C) 500 µm.

Ear: The otic pit is present and located dorsally to the hyoid arch (Fig. 2A, B). The cartilage capsule lies dorsally to the otic pit (Fig. 2B).

Eye: The eye is composed of an optic cup that has not yet fully enclosed the lens (Fig. 2A).

Heart: The heart shows the distinct s-shape resulting from the curvature of the developing ventricle. It protrudes from the thoracic cavity.

Nose: The snout starts to form at the rostral end of the head. The olfactory pit is visible as a sickle shaped rim with its curvature pointing to the cranial side and the two points of the rim facing ventrally, towards the heart (Fig. 2B). Between the anterior ends of the rim towards the middle of the dorsal end of the rim, there is a small membrane covering the pit.

Pharyngeal arches: The mandibular pharyngeal arch is prominent, with a small bud from the maxillary that has just started to bud out (Fig. 2A). Posterior to the mandibular pharyngeal arch, the hyoid arch is present. It slightly overlaps the mandibular arch ventrally at the proximal part. Ventral to the hyoid arch is a small slit, marking the future distinction between the hyoid arch and the third arch.

Ear: The cartilage capsule dorsal to the otic pit is enlarged (Fig. 2C).

Eye: The optic cup has almost enclosed the lens, except for a small gap rostro-ventrally. Note that this is not the characteristic choroid fissure. The optic cup shows faint pigmentation at the caudal-dorsal margin (Fig. 2D).

Head: The mesencephalon protrudes prominently in the cranial direction.

Heart: The heart and its placement in the thoracic cavity have not changed in comparison to the previous stage (Fig. 2D).

Limbs: Both fore- and hind limbs appear as small buds (Fig. 2C).

Nose: The rim of the olfactory pit is still partially covered by a membrane.

Pharyngeal arches: The maxillary process has not proceeded its development compared to the previous stage. The mandibular and hyoid arches, including the gap between them (Fig. 2D; indicated by the plus), have increased in size and show a sharper medial turn at their distal ends, and the segregation of the ventral part of the hyoid arch is more distinct than in the previous stage (Fig. 2D). The fourth arch and the associated pharyngeal slit are present posterior to the hyoid arch (Fig. 2C; indicated by the asterisk).

Ear: The otic pit is enlarged and extends antero-posteriorly beyond the mandibular and hyoid arches. There is less overlap with the cartilage capsule.

Eye: The eye is enlarged and pigmented; it is referred to as the retina pigmented epithelium. The choroid fissure is present, and an unpigmented caudal-rostral line divides the optic cup into a distal and a proximal part (Fig. 2E, F; indicated by the cross).

Limbs: Both limb buds are proximo-distally longer than wide. The apical ectodermal ridge (AER) is distinct (Fig. 2G).

Nose: The external nares have developed, replacing the olfactory pit (Fig. 2E, F). This process of the fronto-nasal process replaces the olfactory rim. The dorsal side of the covering membrane is now connected to the maxillary process.

Pharyngeal arches: The maxillary process is linked to the dorsal side of the fronto-nasal process. The mandibular arch has budded out. The slit between the mandibular and the hyoid arch is reduced. The fourth and the fifth arches are present as small buds (Fig. 2E; indicated by the double-cross).

Ear: The otic vesicle is less prominent in comparison to former stages.

Eye: The eye displays darker pigmentation, including its extension rostrally and caudally to the lens (Fig. 2H; indicated by the upside caret), which is here interpreted as the precursor of the iris.

Heart: The heart is fully enclosed inside the thoracic cavity.

Limbs: Fore- and hind limbs show the paddle shape typically seen in other amniote embryos at corresponding stages (Fig. 2H, I). An elbow angle between the stylopod and zeugopod starts developing. SOX9, the precursor of cartilage, is expressed in the presumptive stylopod, zeugopod, and autopod regions (Fig. 2J). Expression is also distinct in the presumptive regions of the strong limb muscles (Fig. 2J).

Nose: The rim of the olfactory pit is completely closed. The maxillary and the medial nasal prominence overlay the stomodeum.

Pharyngeal arches: The mandibular arch and the hyoid arch are now indistinguishable from one another (Fig. 2H; indicated by the downside caret), and the fourth arch has begun to grow, becoming larger than the initial bud. The mandibular arch reaches to the midline of the eye, and the maxillary prominence has taken up a position anterior to the eye.

Ear: The otic vesicle further extends over the length of the mandibular and hyoid arch.

Eye: Lines that are visible lateral to the eye, or primordial iris, flanking the lens, have differentiated further.

Limbs: The most pronounced differences between stages D and E are identifiable in the limbs. In both fore- and hind limb, the interdigital tissue is retreating (Fig. 2K, L; indicated by the circle). A blood vessel is present at the distal margin of the forming autopod, which is antero-posteriorly wider than it is proximo-distally long (Fig. 2K).

Nose: Deep furrows between the nasal and maxillary prominences are developing further and show invaginations in this region.

Pharyngeal arches: The prominence of the mandibular and hyoid arches is now located anterior to the lens.

Ear: The otic capsule has now become a small pit on the lateral side of the head.

Eye: The optic cup is darkly pigmented. The lateral pigmented lines now enclose the lens (Fig. 2M).

Limbs: Recession of the interdigital tissue is extensive (Fig. 3M-O; indicated by the rhomb). The autopodia have increased in size, most notably across the antero-posterior axis (Fig. 2N).

Nose: The olfactory pit has disappeared. The fronto-nasal process is fully fused (Fig. 3M).

Pharyngeal arches: The pharyngeal arches do not show the distinction between the different arches anymore (Fig. 2M).

Ear: No further development in comparison to the former stage (Fig. 3A).

Eye: The optic cup has completely encircled the lens. The lateral pigmented lines of the lens start to encircle the lens and intensify in pigmentation.

Head: Cephalic projections, except for the mesencephalon, have disappeared. The head resembles that of a hatchling. Internally, only the calcified endolymphatic sacs and statolithic masses are visible in the µCT scans (Fig. 3B).

Limbs: The autopodia show further recession of the interdigital tissue, prominently segregating digits I to V. The elbow angle is at 90°. First signs of slightly swollen patches on the ventral side of the digits are visible (Fig. 3C).

Nose: The nose has become a pit laterally at the rostral end of the snout (Fig. 3A).

Jaw: Upper and lower jaws are fully formed.

Urogenital bud: The urogenital bud is located medially between the hind limbs (Fig. 3A).

Eye: There are four distinct changes that are present in the eye at this stage: (i) The lens has changed from a matte white color to a more shining white color. (ii) The iris starts to cover the margins of the lens. (iii) The black pigmented tissue, starting out as the optic cup, has a glassy appearance. (iv) The hollow pan surrounding the lens is lighter than the rest of the eyeball.

Head: The head surface is smooth with few irregularities. The mesencephalon is still identifiable. Skull bones, such as parietal and surangular, start ossifying (Fig. 3E).

Limbs: The digits are almost free of interdigital tissue, and the distal phalanges start showing claw formation (Fig. 3D, F). Limb elements are still cartilaginous (Fig. 3E). On the ventral side of the digits, swollen pads are distinct, representing the precursors of the adhesive toepads (Fig. 3D, F).

Eye: The iris surrounding the lens starts to display a wavy pattern but is still confined along the margin (Fig. 3G).

Head: More or less all skull bones are ossifyed (Fig. 3H).

Limbs: Claws have developed on all digits. Adhesive toepads are more prominent at this stage: one can discriminate the wavy skin and swellings on the toepads (Fig. 3I). All long bones have started ossifying, as well as the metacarpals in the forelimbs (Fig. 3H). In the hind limbs, metatarsals have ossified further compared to the forelimbs, and ossification of the proximal phalanges has just set in (Fig. 3H).

Skin: The skin starts to get wrinkly, a precursor stage prior to scale formation of the skin (Fig. 3G). Scale formation starts on the tail and proceeds cranially.

Eye: Within the eye, the cornea is developing, and the eye socket begins to enclose the eye (Fig. 3J). The iris has a distinct shape, with projections pointing to the medial part of the lens.

Head: The mesencephalon has started to retract, exposing a smooth skull.

Limbs: The limbs are fully developed. Even the scales, although not yet fully pigmented, are present on the limbs. The scansors on the ventral adhesive toepads of the digits now show a rough wavy texture (Fig. 3L). The most distal part of the adhesive toepads no longer connects dorsally to the ventral part of each digit. All phalangeal elements have started ossifying (Fig. 3K, M).

Nose: The nose has moved to the most rostral side of the snout; it will not change position hereafter.

Skin: Scales now cover the entire body. The skin is dark.

Urogenital bud: The urogenital bud has started retreating into the body (Fig. 3J).

Eye: The eye is located inside the socket, and the scale ridge surrounding it starts to develop (Fig. 3N). The scleral plates of the sclerotic ring start ossifying (Fig. 3O).

Head: Fully scaled.

Limbs: Ossification of the long bones continues (Fig. 3O).

Skin: All scales are pigmented. Scales are present on the upper and lower jaw.

Eye: There is a rim on the cranial side of the eye, starting dorsally and wrapping around the upper part of the socket all the way to the midline (Fig. 3Q). The sclerotic ring is fully ossified (Fig. 3P).

Limbs: Phalanges and metacarpals and -tarsals continue ossifying, with the epiphyses not yet being ossified (Fig. 3R). Yet, neither paraphalanges nor carpals or tarsals have started ossifying (Fig. 3R).

Skin: The scales, present on tail, back, limbs, and head show differences in pigmentation and color (Fig. 3Q).

The phenomenon of limb reduction is of great interest in evolutionary biology (e.g. Shapiro 2002), and especially among squamates, it is frequently found and has been linked to functional demands. Among the many mechanisms and patterns observed that go hand in hand with limb reduction, skeletal heterochrony can be one of them (Shapiro 2002, Hugi et al. 2012). Hemidactylus has reduced phalangeal elements, which could represent an evolutionary step along the path of digit loss (Hopson 1995). In that regard, we analysed limb ossification in Hemidactylus limbs.

Between fore- and hind limbs, no heterochronic differences in size and shape were monitored at any developmental stage (Figs 2, 3; Tab. 1). Ossification sets in slightly earlier in hind autopodial elements compared to the forelimb ones (Fig. 3H). Reduced phalanges ossify at the same time and in the same order as other phalanges (Fig. 3).

Histochemical staining and µCT scanning show that the paraphalangeal elements of Hemidactylus are present in three different shapes (Figs 4, 5): (i) nubbin-like ones laterally and dorsally at the distal end of all metacarpals, as well as at the dorsal side at the distal end of each last phalanx (Fig. 4; labeled in orange); (ii) rhomb-shaped ones distal-lateral to phalanx 1 in digits II, III, IV, and V, as well as phalanx 2 in digit IV (Fig. 4; labeled in red); and (iii) oval paraphalanges located ventrally at metacarpal heads of digits II to V (Fig. 4; labeled in yellow). All paraphalanges are bony in one-year-old adults (ZMB 87075, ZMB 87076) (Fig. 4, 5B). Yet, ossification starts only after hatching; in the two-day-old specimen (ZMB 87077) it has not yet started.

The long bones of one-year-old adult individuals show a lamellar bone matrix with no vascular spaces (Fig. 6). Growth lines may sometimes be present in the primary cortex of individuals over one year old, but in some individuals they are absent or have been resorbed by medullary expansion. These individuals also show intense endosteal remodelling features in the diaphyseal cortex, as seen in longitudinal section (Fig. 6A, B). Different generations of resorption and redeposition of endosteal bone can be seen along the margin of the innermost cortex, expressed by the cross-cutting relations of the resorption lines. Such remodeling features in the endosteal region can also be observed in other lizard species, such as varanid, tegu and iguanid lizards (Fig. 7), but only Tupinambis shows true secondary osteons in the innermost cortex among sampled squamates.

From an adult individual of known age (ZMB 87078, 468 days old, 493 days since onset of ossification, Fig. 6B, D, E; Tab. 2), we calculated the average daily lamellar bone apposition rate since the onset of ossification until time of death at 0.1 lamellae per day, equivalent to an average periosteal accretion rate of 0.4 µm per day. We used the following formulae to calculate accretion rates:

Where apposition.rate is the daily accretion rate (in µm/day), lamellar.accretion.rate is the number of lamellae deposited per day, W_adult.hum is the width of the adult humerus (in µm), W_onset.oss is the humeral width at the onset of ossification (in µm), N°_{days.onset.oss} is the age of the adult individuals, in days, since the onset of ossification, W_primcortex is the thickness of the primary cortex in the adult individual, and N°_{lamellae.primcortex} is the number of lamellae counted in the primary cortex of the adult individual (Measurements in Tab. 2).

The in-ovo development of the geckoHemidactylus was defined into twelve stages post-oviposition based on morphological embryonic characters (Figs 2, 3). In contrast to other staging tables, somite formation is not taken into account as they are not clearly identifiable (Hamburger and Hamilton 1951, Muthukkaruppan et al. 1970, Theiler 1989, Sanger et al. 2008). The comparisons of days post-oviposition proved to be a poor indicator of actual development of the embryo (Tab. 1), which we attribute to variations in oviposition timing between females and/or to fluctuation in temperature (26-28°C) in the breeding room. Such discrepancy is not unusual considering the poikilothermic physiology of Hemidactylus; shifts in temperature are known to have effects on the developmental age of individuals (Atkinson 1994, Andrews 2004, Goodman 2008, Dayananda et al. 2017). A similar range was also monitored in Eublepharis macularius (Wise et al. 2009), Nothobachia ablephara and Calyptommatus sinebrachiatus (Roscito and Rodrigues 2012). Instead, our study groups erected stages based on morphological events regarding the ear, eye, head, heart, limbs, fronto-nasal process, pharyngeal arches, skin, and thorax development (Figs 2, 3; Tabs 1, 3). Since limb morphogenesis is an often used and a very informative criterion in vertebrate developmental biology, it is also a focus in this study. We not only generated a framework in which to communicate the development of Hemidactylus, but we also made direct comparisons with other staging tables available for a diverse range of squamate species (Tab. 3), thus allowing comparative heterochronic studies. In fact, in squamates, the differential timing of fore- and hind limb is rather synchronous (Bininda-Emonds et al. 2007). Interestingly, this is also the case in Hemidactylus, which shows no heterochrony in limb development (Tab. 1), in contrast to other gekkotan taxa in which forelimb development is slightly advanced (Noro et al. 2009, Wise et al. 2009). Furthermore, in Paroedura, which has a comparable developmental period, limb budding starts at the third day of oviposition (Noro et al. 2009). In contrast, we observe that in Hemidactylus, limb budding does not start as early as stage B (Fig. 2, Tab. 1). Later in development, Noro et al. (2009) identify a pattern of heterochrony in the limbs of Paroedura, which they attribute to the development of the digits in the gekkotan clade. However, findings of this study do not support this assumption (Figs 2, 3). Instead, we found interspecific variation during limb development within eight squamate species including geckos, lacertids, and iguanians: (i) concerning limb bud formation after oviposition, (ii) retraction of the interdigital tissue, (iii) claw development on the ultimate phalanges, (iv) scale formation on the limbs, and (v) termination of limb development (Tab. 3). Among geckos, for example, scale formation on the limbs starts at stage J and 35 dpo in Hemidactylus and Paroedura, respectively, whereas in Tarentola and Eublepharis, it is developed at an earlier stage (S35 and St 37, respectively).

Bone histology shows rapid accretion and endosteal remodeling of lamellar bone in the long bone cortices at later phases in ontogeny. The lamellar bone formation rate is similar to rates seen in the nearly avascular fibulae of wild Varanus niloticus (de Buffrénil and Castanet 2000), suggesting that absolute matrix production rate could be similar in different squamates. The intense remodeling in adult Hemidactylus indicates a dynamic balance of cortical bone thickness during growth. Interestingly, in contrast to Hemidactylus, Iguana, and Varanus timorensis, the Tupinambis (Fig. 7) in our study also produces secondary osteons, and generally experiences more advanced remodeling. This difference may be the result of the combination of the relatively large size and foraging behavioral ecology of Tupinambis. The studied Hemicactylus and V. timorensis also typically forage for food, but they retain relatively small body sizes, and their lacuno-canalicular networks may provide enough flux to maintain a healthy bone homeostasis without the need for additional blood vessels inside the bony cortex.

Our detailed analysis of ecomorphological specializations in the limbs of Hemidactylus also reveal that, in contrast to earlier observations (Russell and Bauer 1988), paraphalanges are bony in the adult, as revealed by µCT (Figs 3, 4). However, these ossify only after hatching, as shown by µCT scanning and azan staining (Figs 4, 5). Furthermore, data from the µCT indicate that more paraphalanges in various different shapes are present in Hemidactylus (Fig. 4), when compared to other gekkotans (Gamble et al. 2012). These structures have been suggested to aid in the support of the scansors (Russell and Bauer 1988, Gamble et al. 2012). In fact, they evolved also multiple times independently in geckos, alongside adhesive toepads (Gamble et al. 2012). Paraphalanges have been suggested to represent sesamoid bones (Russell and Bauer 1988, Gamble et al. 2012). Sesamoids are neomorphic ossifications present in tendons and/or ligaments, located near joints. They are often mistaken for accessory ossicles because both share various imaging characteristics (Nwawka et al. 2013). However, we agree with their previous identification as paraphalanges, because their existence correlates with the modified tendons and muscles controlling the scansors (Russell and Bauer 1988, Gamble et al. 2012). Among Squamata, a variety of different sesamoid bones are present in the hands and feet (Fontanarrosa and Abdala 2016, Regnault et al. 2016). In fact, phalangeal sesamoids, located dorsally on the penultimate phalanges, are ancestral to all Lepidosauria (squamates and rhynchocephalians), whereas metacarpal sesamoids likely evolved only later within squamates (Regnault et al. 2016). Penultimate phalangeal sesamoids are, in fact, present in most squamates (Regnault et al. 2016). Metacarpal and metatarsal sesamoids are of variable occurrence in Gekkota (Regnault et al. 2016). Although some sesamoids have been linked to lifestyle, functional interpretations are to be inferred with caution (Fontanarrosa and Abdala 2016, Regnault et al. 2016). In humans, e.g., sesamoids likely result from an interplay of intrinsic genetic factors and phylogeny, and extrinsic mechanobiological factors (Sarin et al. 1999).

Reduced phalanges ossify at the same time schedule as the other phalangeal elements in Hemidactylus (Figs 3, 4), but their ecological relevance is yet to be determined in this species. This trait is also found in non-related and ecologically different fossil synapsids, such as Biarmosuchus, Titanophoneus, Lycaenops, Thrinaxodon, and even the mammaliaform Docofossor (Hopson 1995, Luo et al. 2015). However, phalanx number varies widely in non-mammalian tetrapods (Richardson and Chipman 2003). Hopson (1995) suggested that these reduced disc-like structures were eventually lost. Gamble et al. (2012), on the other hand, linked phalanx reduction with the evolution of adhesive toepads. Furthermore, Russell (1977) suggested that the reduced phalanx is used to raise the penultimate phalanx, thereby altering the angle of the claw relative to the substrate for a more beneficial grip. Phalanx variation has been developmentally associated with either heterochronic shifts (Richardson and Oelschläger 2002), or the involvement of mutations in expression patterns and molecular pathways of BMPs and other transcription factors (Cooper et al. 2014, Luo et al. 2015). Studying the latter in Hemidactylus remains an avenue for future research. This study provides the morphological framework essential for the study of such kinds of ecological traits from a molecular perspective, that is, by means of gene expression and transcriptome analyses.