Pretty stoked that our article got the cover of the latest issue of @journalofanatomy.bsky.social!

Check it out here: doi.org/10.1111/joa....

Why did hemibacula evolve? We aren't sure, but have some ideas. They appear to be the result of peramorphosis, like some of their skull features. If they have a function, we speculate they may be used to anchor during copulation or for female stimulation. This needs breeding experiments to confirm.

By looking at their development in a single population of Aristelliger praesignis, we demonstrate that hemibacula develop from a connective tissue structural precursor that eventually mineralizes. This all happens after this species is sexually mature.

We found very peculiar histology of hemibacula. Instead of true bone, like mammalian bacula, these appear to be mineralized connective tissue with epidermal barbs covering it. We also found alcian-positive cells that do not exhibit typical histology of cartilage. Very strange!

All species of Aristelliger have hemibacula, and their morphology corresponds to 3 putative clades that previous phylogenetic work supports.

Using these images I generated close to 10 years ago, and with the help of @danpaluh.bsky.social, Jon DeBoer, Juan Daza, @tonygamble.bsky.social, Tony Russell, and Aaron Bauer, we combined µCT, skeletal preps, and histology to study their evolutionary diversity and development.

During my masters research at Villanova, I generated cleared and stained developmental series of Aristelliger to study their bizarre, hyperossified skulls. I would always notice these hemibacula and take photos.

Aristelliger are some of the only lizards that have mineralized structures in their hemipenes (i.e. hemibacula). They were initially described by Kluge in the 80s, but have otherwise been ignored in the literature. These are likely not homologous to the penile bones of some mammals (bacula).

As promised, SDB is over and it's time to talk about the most glorious lizards, croaking geckos (Aristelliger)

Check out our new paper on the hemibacula of Aristelliger geckos!

Excited to share a new #OA paper in @journalofanatomy.bsky.social detailing evolution and development of hemibacula: bizarre mineralized elements in hemipenes of croaking geckos.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

#GeckoEvoDevo #Aristelliger

Meaning of #aristelliger Aristelliger : Genus of gecupines in the family of spherottilids, of nocturnal and arboreal habits, typical of the Caribbean... aristelliger

Significado de #aristelliger Aristelliger: Género de gecos de la familia de los esferodactílidos, de hábitos nocturnos y arbóreos, propios del Caribe... aristelliger

Significado de #aristelliger Aristelliger: gênero de gecupines na família dos spherottiídeos, de hábitos noturnos e arborícolas, típicos do Caribe... aristelliger

This is a Croaking Lizard (Aristelliger praesignis) a species endemic to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. He's on the face of the Brac on Cayman Brac. Amazingly they lay their eggs in spaces in the bare rock, no substrate at all. I've not seen another reptile or anything else do that. #herps