Eocene–Oligocene cooling and the diversification of Hemidactylus geckos in Peninsular India

The Eocene–Oligocene cooling marks a global shift towards a cooler and drier climate, concurrent with significant turnover in biota globally. In Peninsular India, palynological investigations suggest a shift from wet rainforest vegetation to dry and seasonal species during this period. However, the grassland and open habitats that dominate this region at present expanded relatively recently due to Late Miocene intensification of monsoon...