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New Species of Gecko Discovered in Mizoram

  • 15 Nov 2023

Recently, a team of scientists and researchers have discovered a new species of gecko endemic to Mizoram.

  • The new species has been named ‘Cyrtodactylus vairengtensis’ after the town in Mizoram where it was found.
  • The common name suggested for the new species is ‘Vairengte bent-toed gecko’.
  • The distinct feature of this new species is the number of femoral pores which distinguishes it from other members of the Cyrtodactylus family.
  • Femoral pores are located on the underside of the hind legs in lizards that secrete a mixture of lipids and proteins and are thought to be used to attract mates and mark territories.
  • It is endemic to Mizoram, taking the number of geckos native to the state to 6, and 22 across northeast India.
  • There are 335 gecko species across the world, of which 42 are found in India.

Gecko

  • These are reptiles and are found on all the continents except Antarctica.
  • These colorful lizards have adapted to habitats from rainforests, to deserts, to cold mountain slopes.
  • These are mostly small, usually nocturnal reptiles.
  • Geckos are spread across six families: Carphodactylidae, Diplodactylidae, Eublepharidae, Gekkonidae, Phyllodactylidae, and Sphaerodactylidae.