Tropical geckos in Australia are more adaptable than we thought

By Keith Christian, Professor of Zoology, Charles Darwin University

Earth is teeming with life: creatures big and small have spread and adapted to vastly different environments. Many animals can also change their physiology – how their bodies function – in response to local fluctuations. Just think of hibernating bears in winter, for example.

But some places experience less fluctuation. When you imagine the tropics, you’re likely picturing something akin to a travel brochure – lush and always warm.

Indeed, temperatures in the tropics are relatively stable, so some biologists have suggested tropical animals can’t…

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