How Speedy Geckos Lose Their Sticky Feet with Evolution (VIDEO)

Geckos are known for their unusual ability to stick to slippery surfaces. But did you know that these species can lose this ability? Scientists have found that evolution can downgrade or entirely remove adaptations that a species has previous acquired, giving the species survival advantages.

"The removal of the constraints associated with adhesion allowed those gecko species to either run faster or burrow," said Timothy Higham, one of the researchers, in a news release. "The end result is diversification."

In this case, the researchers examined the adhesive system that allows geckos to cling to surfaces. They found that species of geckos in which the adhesive system was either lost or simplified experienced elevated rates of evolution related to morphology and locomotion. In other words, the loss of sticky feet gave them greater mobility. This loss of morphological features can be seen as innovations that allow animals to occupy a new environmental niche.

"Like the adhesive system used by geckos, the prehensile tail in several vertebrates groups is an innovation that allows these animals to climb effectively and likely in areas where other animals cannot go," said Higham. "Such morphological adaptations lead to rapid diversification. But these innovations also serve to constrain locomotion. Evolution can result in the formation of new and elaborate structures, but it can also result in the loss, or elimination, of them."

The findings reveal that when it comes to adaptations, unusual features don't always come out on top. Geckos can lose their sticky feet and, because of it, be better suited to their environment.

"Why structures are lost can tell us a lot about the function of a certain trait, and it can tell us about the selective pressures on the animal," said Higham.

The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Want to see the geckos for yourself? Check out the video below, courtesy of YouTube.