Multi-Niche Microbiota of a Desert-Adapted Lizard: 16S rRNA Profiling of Teratoscincus roborowskii Endemic to the Turpan Depression in Northwest China

The microbial communities of desert-dwelling reptiles, such as lizards, are crucial for host health and adaptation but remain understudied. This study used 16S rRNA sequencing to analyze the guts, oral cavities, and environments of the Turpan Wonder Gecko (Teratoscincus roborowskii) from the desert area in the Turpan Depression of China. The results showed distinct microbial profiles across these niches. The gut microbiota exhibited the highest diversity, dominated by Bacteroidota and thermophilic Thermodesulfobacteriota, suggesting heat adaptation. The oral cavity was enriched with Pseudomonadota and Verrucomicrobiota, possibly linked to its omnivorous diet. Environmental samples were mainly Cyanobacterota. Functional predictions indicated gut microbes specialized in carbohydrate metabolism, while oral microbes might aid xenobiotic degradation. This study provides the first comprehensive microbial profile of T. roborowskii, offering insights into its adaptation to extreme desert ecosystems.