‘Large’ creature — with ‘long’ fingers and red eyes — discovered as new species
In a forest of southern India, a “large” scaly creature perched on a rock. Its “long” fingers gripped the stone as its red eyes scanned its surroundings. But it wasn’t the only one searching for something.
Visiting scientists spotted the colorful animal — and discovered a new species.
Researchers visited several sites in Tamil Nadu in 2022 to survey wildlife, according to a study published June 14 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. The visits were part of a larger project to document the state’s diverse lizards.
During their surveys, researchers found dozens of unfamiliar-looking geckos perched on rocks. They captured seven of these animals and, taking a closer look, realized they’d discovered a new species: Cnemaspis valparaiensis, or the Valparai dwarf gecko.
Valparai dwarf geckos are considered “large-sized,” reaching about 4.5 inches in length, the study said. They have “red” eyes, “slender” bodies dotted with spikes and “long” fingers with claws.
Photos show the “yellow-brown” coloring of several Valparai dwarf geckos. Down its back, the gecko has a dark brown patch while its sides are dotted with sunflower yellow spots. Its tail alternates between black and white stripes except for the dull brown regenerated section.
Female geckos look similar to males but are generally “much darker” with “less prominent yellow colouration,” researchers said. A photo shows the female’s muted colors and orange-brown tail.
Valparai dwarf geckos live in “evergreen forest patches” between elevations of 3,900 and 4,600 feet, the study said. The geckos were found in a cave and perched on rocks near a road, temple and tea plantation.
Researchers said they named the new species after the Valparai Plateau where it was discovered, the study said.
So far, the new species has been found at “a few closely spaced” sites on the Valparai Plateau, the study said. These sites are in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, and a roughly 1,500-mile drive south from New Delhi.
The new species was identified by its coloring, scale pattern, spikes and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 8% genetic divergence from other dwarf geckos.
The research team included Akshay Khandekar, Tejas Thackeray and Ishan Agarwal.
The team also discovered four more new species: Agamalai dwarf gecko, Anaimalai dwarf gecko, Anuradha’s dwarf gecko and Tenkasi dwarf gecko.
This story was originally published June 17, 2024 at 11:42 AM with the headline "‘Large’ creature — with ‘long’ fingers and red eyes — discovered as new species."
