Data from: Cryptic diversity and population genetic structure in the rare, endemic, forest-obligate, slender geckos of the Philippines

Recent studies of forest lizards in Southeast Asia have highlighted spectacular morphological and cryptic genetic diversity in several poorly known clades. Unfortunately, many of the included species have microhabitat preferences for forested environments, and therefore they are threatened by extensive forest destruction throughout the region. This is particularly true in the Philippines, an archipelago with a strikingly high proportion (84%) of endemic geckos. Abundances inferred from historical museum collections suggests that we are in a critical period where apparent declines in population viability and species’ abundance have taken place faster than the growth in our understanding of alpha diversity. This phenomenon is exemplified in the exceedingly rare Philippine slender forest geckos of the genus Pseudogekko. Most of the known species are rarely encountered by field biologists, and species boundaries are unclear; this poor state of knowledge impedes effective conservation measures. Using the first multilocus phylogeny for these taxa, and phylogenetic and population genetic approaches, we elucidate evolutionary lineages and delimit species-level conservation targets in this unique radiation of endemic Philippine geckos. The results support the presence of widespread cryptic diversity in the genus, providing a framework for the re-evaluation of conservation priorities aimed at protecting these rare, forest-obligate species.针对东南亚森林蜥蜴的近期研究揭示了多个鲜为人知的演化支中存在极具特色的形态学与隐蔽性遗传多样性。遗憾的是，多数收录物种的微生境偏好均为森林环境，因此该区域广泛的森林破坏正严重威胁它们的生存。这一现状在菲律宾尤为显著：作为群岛国家，其特有壁虎物种占比高达84%。根据历史馆藏标本推断的种群丰度数据显示，我们正处于一个关键阶段——种群存活能力与物种丰度的显著下降速度，远超我们对α多样性的认知增长速度。这一现象在菲律宾瘦肢森林壁虎属（Pseudogekko）的极度稀有物种身上体现得淋漓尽致。目前已知的该属物种大多极难被野外生物学家观测到，且物种界限模糊不清；这种认知匮乏的现状严重阻碍了有效的保护举措。本研究基于针对该类群的首个多位点系统发育框架，并结合系统发育与种群遗传学分析方法，阐明了这一独特的菲律宾特有壁虎演化辐射类群的演化谱系，并界定了物种级别的保护目标。研究结果证实该属广泛存在隐蔽多样性，为重新评估针对这些稀有、专性森林栖息物种的保护优先级提供了理论框架。