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Daily News Analysis

New gecko species                                                                                                               

19th February, 2022 Environment

  

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Context: A team of herpetologists recorded a new species of bent-toed gecko (Crytodactylus exercitus) from Meghalaya. Another new bent-toed gecko, the Cyrtodactylus siahaensis also found.

About this species:           

  • Scientific name: Crytodactylus exercitus
  • English name: Indian Army’s bent-toed gecko.
  • Significance of this discovery: It uncover the herpetofaunal diversity of the region.
  • Genus Cyrtodactylus is represented by about 320 species worldwide and is the third most speciose vertebrate genus in the world.
  • Members of this genus range from South Asia to Melanesia with high diversity in south Asia.
  • India is now home to 40 species of the bent-toed gecko with the northeast accounting for 16 of them.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/army-tag-for-new-gecko-from-meghalaya/article65062793.ece#:~:text=A%20lizard%20new%20to%20science,Indian%20Army's%20bent%2Dtoed%20gecko.