Population Structure and Climate Effects on <i>Geckobia</i> Infestation in <i>Ptyodactylus</i> Geckos from Israel and West Bank, with Descriptions of <i>G. parva</i> sp. nov. and <i>G. inermis</i> sp. nov.

ABSTRACT: Scale mites of the genus Geckobia (Pterygosomatidae) are highly specialized permanent parasites of geckos, but their diversity and ecology in arid environments remain poorly understood. We examined 1135 museum specimens of Ptyodactylus geckos collected from 1965 to 1991 across Israel and the West Bank's Mediterranean-desert climate gradient to investigate environmental effects on Geckobia mite distributions and population structure. We analyzed prevalence, intensity, population structure, and seasonal patterns across three climate zones using standard parasitological methods and Köppen-Geiger climate classification. We describe two new species, Geckobia inermis sp. nov. and G. parva sp. nov., from Ptyodactylus puiseuxi and provide the first descrip

SUBMITTER: Fajfer-Jakubek M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12691030 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature