Description

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Context:

A new species of diurnal gecko recorded from Assam has been named after the Brahmaputra River.

About Cnemaspis brahmaputra:

Feature	Details
Location Found	Dirgheswari Temple, northern bank of the Brahmaputra River, Assam
Clade	Cnemaspis podihuna clade – small, diurnal geckos primarily known from Sri Lanka
Significance of Discovery	Indicates ancient biogeographic links between Sri Lanka and Northeast India; shows historical faunal exchanges
Evolutionary Distinctiveness	Genetically and morphologically distinct from Sri Lankan relatives; shows significant evolutionary divergence
Distinguishing Features	- Larger body size - Fewer mid-body scale rows - More ventral scale rows across the belly - No tubercles on lower flanks - Three enlarged rows of thigh scales parallel to the femoral scale row
Other Cnemaspis in Northeast	Cnemaspis assamensis (described in 2000)
Distribution Comparison	- C. brahmaputra: Northern bank of the Brahmaputra River - C. assamensis: Opposite bank of the river
Genetic Comparison	Both species show significant genetic differences despite being in the same clade and region
Habitat Restriction	Both species restricted to the Brahmaputra River valley

Source: The Hindu

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Cnemaspis brahmaputra, recently discovered in Assam, is significant because:

A) It is the first nocturnal gecko species found in the Himalayan region

B) It confirms the presence of the genus in the Andaman Islands

C) It suggests a biogeographic link between Northeast India and Sri Lanka

D) It is the only reptile species found in the Brahmaputra valley

Answer: C

Explanation:

Cnemaspis brahmaputra is a newly discovered species of diurnal gecko found at Dirgheswari Temple in Assam, belonging to the Sri Lanka-linked podihuna clade. Its discovery highlights an ancient faunal connection between Northeast India and Sri Lanka and reveals significant genetic divergence from its relatives.