Some science stories are like detective stories, but this one particularly fits the bill— a scientist was even skulking around at night with a flashlight in search of clues. The case? A mystery around why geckos that were supposed to be members of a single species barked out varying mating calls (do yourself a favor and click through to the story to hear one of these barks—you are not ready for what it sounds like). Several years and many nighttime gecko-tracking missions later, researcher François Becker discovered that what were thought to be three species of barking gecko in southwestern Africa are actually nine species.
How we identify species: Uncovering the secret identities of these tiny—but startlingly loud—lizards illuminates a shift in how we tell species apart. In the past, such taxonomy was largely done by observable physical characteristics. But with the barking geckos, these species all look remarkably similar. So scientists are increasingly using integrative taxonomy, which incorporates several pieces of evidence—in this case, the geckos’ calls and DNA. The result is a clearer picture of the tree of life.
What the experts say: “Some of these species that were previously put together as one species are actually separated by 25 million years of evolution,” Becker says.
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—Andrea Thompson, Senior Editor, Earth & Environment
