Morphology and histology of the skin of the keeled rock gecko Cyrtopodion scabrum (Heyden, 1827) (Sauria: Gekkonidae)

Abstract

Introduction: Due to the physiological importance of the skin to protect the body against
external factors, regulation of body temperature, secretion, fat storage, the process of
absorption of light by melanocyte cells and lifestyle in reptiles, its study is interesting. This
study investigated the morphology and histology of the skin of the keeled rock gecko
Cyrtopodion scabrum (Heyden, 1827) (Gekkonidae), which is mainly a nocturnal gecko.
Materials and Methods: Five specimens of keeled rock gecko were prepared from Razi
University Zoological Museum, sections of skin tissue were isolated on the dorsal and
abdominal surface and its preanal pores, and after performing the tissue passage steps, the
prepared slides were stained and studied under a light microscope.
Results: The results of microscopic observations of the skin structure of the studied
specimens showed that this species has a stratum corneum (keratinocyte layer), epidermal
layer, dermis layer and hypodermic layer from the surface to the depth, where the thickness
of the epidermal layer is small, but the layer dermis is developed and has many fat cells.
The hypodermic layer is developed in its preanal pores and dorsal surface and has numerous
fat cells.
Conclusion: The epidermal layer of the keeled rock gecko is thin in the structure of scales
and tubercles, which may be due to its habitat and time of activity. On the dorsal surface of
the dermis is a keeled region, which has abundant collagen fibers and fat cells beneath the
tubercle, which makes the tubercle stand out. The anterior vesicular pores of the keeled rock
gecko have a developed hypodermis in which there are secretory glands with a tubular
structure to produce secretory material. The thickness of the various layers of skin is related
to the lizard's living environment, in that having a large number of fat cells insulates the
body and provides energy.