New species of bent-toed gecko found at Agasthyamalai

Tags: Science and Technology

A group of researchers has discovered a new species of bent-toed gecko from Agasthyamalai hills in the Western Ghats recently. 

IMPORTANT FACTS -

About the new Species :

• Scientific name - Cyrtodactylus aravindi

• The species has been given the common name Aravind’s ground gecko after noted malacologist (a branch of zoology that deals with molluscs) N A Aravind.

• It has been described on the basis of variation and its specificity in molecular DNA data.

• It has so far been found only at two locations, Muppanddal and Thuckalay, in Kanyakumari district within the Agasthyamalai biosphere reserve in Tamil Nadu. 

• This new species has been described in the journal Vertebrate Zoology.

About Gecko :

• Geckos are reptiles and are found on all continents except Antarctica.

• These are colorful lizards adapted to habitats ranging from rainforests, desserts to cold mountain slopes.

• Most geckos are nocturnal, they are active at night.

Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve :

• It was established in 2001. 

• It straddles the border of Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram Districts in Kerala and Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari Districts in Tamil Nadu, South India at the southern end of the Western Ghats. 

• It consists mostly of tropical forests.