Retention Rates of Surface and Implantable Marking Methods in the Mediterranean House Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus), with Notes on Capture Methods and Rates of Skin Shedding

摘要

Many ecological studies of amphibians and reptiles commonly use toe clipping to permanently mark small species. However, researchers have noted deleterious effects on locomotion and even survival caused by toe clipping (Bloch and Irschick 2004; Clarke 1972; Dodd 1993). Alternatives to toe clipping include implant-able and surface-marking techniques, yet the former requires the species of interest to have transparent or semi-transparent skin, and the latter may be highly susceptible to wear or loss by shedding.