Scientists Discover Six New Bent-Toed Gecko Species in Northeastern India

Tags: Science and Technology

Researchers have discovered six new species of bent-toed geckos in Northeastern India.

An Overview of the News

• This Conducted by scientists from Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE), and the Natural History Museum London (NHM).

New Species Locations:

• Two species from Arunachal Pradesh (AR)

• Two species from Nagaland

• One species from Manipur

• One species from Mizoram

Bent-Toed Geckos:

• Distributed across Peninsular India, Sri Lanka, the Himalayan foothills, Northeast India, Southeast Asia, and the Solomon Islands.

• Significant diversity with approximately 346 species identified.

Highlights of New Species Descriptions

• Arunachal Pradesh:

  • Namdapha Bent-Toed Gecko: Found in Namdapha and Kamlang Tiger Reserves; inhabits lowland evergreen forests.

  • Siang Valley Bent-Toed Gecko: Discovered in the Siang River valley, known for its unique biodiversity.

• Mizoram:

  • Ngengpui Bent-Toed Gecko: Located in Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary; characterized by tropical semi-evergreen to moist evergreen vegetation.

• Manipur:

  • Manipur Bent-Toed Gecko: Discovered near Lamdan Kabui village; found on shrubs along the road connecting Leimatak and Charoikhullen.

• Nagaland:

  • Kiphire Bent-Toed Gecko: Found in regenerating jhum land at elevations between 740m and 1,300m above sea level.

  • Barail Hill Bent-Toed Gecko: Discovered in a reserved forest at similar elevations.

Research and Implications

• Survey Duration and Locations:

  • Surveys conducted from 2018 to 2022 across 22 locations in Northeast India.

• New Lineages:

  • Morphological and scientific tests revealed six previously undescribed lineages.

• Species Diversity:

  • Higher species diversity south of the Brahmaputra River compared to the Himalayan foothills.

  • Each Northeastern state now has its own endemic bent-toed gecko species.

• Biodiversity Significance:
  

  • Findings highlight the rich biodiversity and importance of exploring lesser-known areas.

  • Protected areas and abandoned jhum lands are crucial for documenting undocumented species.