‘Dwarf’-like creature — with ‘visible’ eggs in its belly — discovered as new species
On a steep cliff in India, a “dwarf”-like creature perched on the rock wall. The scaly animal’s remote home and camouflaged coloring likely helped it avoid attention — but not entirely.
And when visiting scientists finally found the rock-dwelling creature, it turned out to be a new species.
Researchers decided to hike a dangerous-looking set of steps up to Ratangad Fort, an over 3,200-foot-tall mountain range in Maharashtra, in October, according to a study published June 7 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. They weren’t hiking for the stunning views, at least, not entirely.
They were looking for geckos.
Sure enough, researchers found three unfamiliar-looking geckos during the hike, the study said. When they took a closer look at the lizards, they realized they’d discovered a new species: Cnemaspis basalticola, or the basalt dwarf gecko.
Basalt dwarf geckos are considered “small-sized,” reaching up to 3 inches in length, the study said. They have “slender” bodies, “long” limbs and “strong” claws. Their bronze eyes are ringed with copper.
Photos show the “faded greenish-brown” coloring of a basalt dwarf gecko. Down its back, the lizard has several “irregular dark crossbars.” A handful of yellow spikes dot its sides and tail.
The gecko’s coloring seems to blend in with the surrounding rocks, another photo shows.
Basalt dwarf geckos were found perched on rock walls and “inside a man-made cave,” researchers said. One lizard was seen pregnant “with a pair of fully developed eggs visible from the belly.”
Researchers said they named the new species after the Latin words “basaltes,” meaning “basalt,” and “cola,” meaning “inhabitant or dweller,” because of its preference for “basalt rock formations.”
So far, the new species has only been found at Ratangad Fort, the study said. The fort is a roughly 800-mile drive southwest from New Delhi.
The new species was identified by its spikes, scale pattern, body shape and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 10% genetic divergence from other dwarf geckos.
The research team included Akshay Khandekar, Tejas Thackeray, Ishan Agarwal, Satpal Gangalmale, Saurabh Kininge and Sunil Gaikwad.
The team also discovered a second new species: the Kalsubai dwarf gecko.
This story was originally published June 7, 2024 at 12:05 PM with the headline "‘Dwarf’-like creature — with ‘visible’ eggs in its belly — discovered as new species."
