geckon

Geckon is a prehistoric genus of small lizards that belonged to the family Gekkonidae, the group that includes modern-day geckos. The genus is known only from fossil remains that were first recovered in the late Miocene strata of central Asia, particularly in the Zhetysu Basin of modern-day Kazakhstan. In 1967, Russian paleontologist G. K. Stepanyan described the type species, Geckon tataricus, based on a partial skull and several postcranial bones. The designation “tataricus” refers to the Tatar region of the Soviet Union, where the initial specimens were collected.

Morphologically, Geckon shares several features typical of geckoes, such as a flattened skull, elongated digits with adhesive toepads, and a prehensile tail. However, the fossil record suggests that Geckon had relatively large, serrated teeth compared with most extant geckos, indicating a diet that may have included more robust prey items. The postcranial skeleton shows a robust humerus and femur, which might reflect a semi-arboreal or ground-dwelling lifestyle in a dry, semi-desert environment.

The phylogenetic placement of Geckon remains uncertain. Early cladistic analyses linked it to the Eugongylinae subfamily, but more recent studies have placed it deeper within the Gekkonomorpha, suggesting an early branching of the gecko lineage. Because only fragmentary material is available, further fossil discoveries and detailed comparative studies are required to clarify its relationship to living geckos.

Geckon contributes to the understanding of gecko evolutionary history by demonstrating morphological diversification in the Miocene and providing evidence for the early spread of the Gekkonidae across Eurasia. Its discovery illustrates the importance of Central Asian fossil sites for reconstructing the biogeographic dynamics of reptiles in the Cenozoic.