Research Interests
CT and diceCT ScanningMany research projects at the GECKOLAB are based on digital scans of reptile specimens. Using these digital imaging techniques, we study a variety of topics including morphological descriptions and diversity, and morphofunctional aspects of reptile anatomical structures.
Anolis olssoni (YPM 03101) from Haiti. diceCT specimen, scanned and stained by Jessie Maisano at the University of Texas at Austin (Digimorph).
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ProjectsWe have several projects running in the geckolab, some of them through collaborations with other institutions. Some of our projects are:
Morphological evolution of geckos. Systematics of New World sphaerodactyl geckos. Studies on miniaturization of squamate lizards. Dermal ornamentation of geckos. Morphological diversity of fossil lizards preserved in amber from Myanmar and the Dominican Republic. Evolution of skull shape in pygopods. Geometric morphometrics of amphisbaenas. Fossil amphisbaenians from Argentina. |
THE COLLECTIONGECKOLAB started to build a teaching and research collection that include ethanol preserved specimens, skeletons, clear and stained specimens, and a large data base of digital X-rays and CT scans. Our collection is primarily based on donations from museums and commercial institutions.
←Hoburogekko suchanovi, from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia. Illustration by Steph abramowicz from Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
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