The leukocytes of the roughtail gecko Cyrtopodion scabrum: a bright-field and phase-contrast study

The morphology of the peripheral blood leukocytes of the roughtail gecko, Cyrtopodion scrabum, is carefully described in Wright-Giemsa and toluidine-blue-stained blood films, and in the living condition by phase-contrast microscopy, using supravitally stained preparations. Mature eosinophils, basophils and small lymphocytes commonly occur in the blood, while monocytes are rarely seen. In addition, macrophages are occasionally encountered, but neutrophils cannot be observed. Developmental stages in eosinophil and basophil differentiation can be seen. This study serves as a basis for the cytochemical localization of substances within these blood cells.