The Regeneration of Caudal Epidermal Specializations in Lygodactylus Picturatus Keniensis (Gekkonidae, Lacertilia)

In 1971, P.F.A. Maderson conducted a study on approximately 120 Lygodactylus picturatus keniensis lizards, 36 of which had regenerated tails. The research focused on the regeneration of tail scales, which have three distinct specializations: sense organs, pilose pads, and ß-glands found only in males. Despite differences in form and patterning, the regenerated scales maintained the structure, distribution, and sexual specificity of the original scales. The study concluded that the precision of these replacements could be linked to functional demands, although the developmental mechanism was unknown at the time. The study also suggested that the epidermis primarily acts as a barrier, with secondary functions such as thermoregulation, secretion, and sensory perception associated with regional specializations. These specializations are rarely replaced during adult mammalian wound-healing, indicating a unique regenerative event in lizards.