Spiky ‘dwarf’-like creature seen climbing rocks in India turns out to be new species
On the southernmost tip of India, a “dwarf”-like creature with spiky sides scampered up a boulder. Down below, scientists watched the rock-climbing animal.
It turned out to be a new species.
Researchers visited several rocky hills in Tamil Nadu in 2022 as part of an ongoing project to survey the state’s wildlife, according to a study published Sept. 19 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Natural History. The hills marked the southernmost edge of a known biodiversity hot spot.
During the visits, researchers found dozens of “unusual” lizards climbing on the rocks, the study said. They captured a few of the animals and, after taking a closer look, realized they’d discovered a new species: Cnemaspis kanyakumariensis, or the Kanyakumari dwarf gecko.
Kanyakumari dwarf geckos are considered “small-sized,” reaching about 3 inches in length, the study said. They have “relatively slender” bodies with rows of “long and spine-like” spikes along their sides. Their “long” limbs have “strong” claws.
Photos show the blotchy brown coloring of the new species. Its sides and limbs have a pale yellow hue, and a few bright orange scales dot its upper body.
Kanyakumari dwarf geckos live on rocky hills with dry, thorny plants or “sparse” forests. Researchers described the geckos as rock climbers, most active during the day or at twilight and “locally abundant.”
At night, the geckos “were seen resting near rock crevices.”
Researchers said they named the new species after the Kanyakumari district where it was discovered and, so far, the only area where it has been found. This district in Tamil Nadu is the “southernmost district of India” and a roughly 1,700-mile drive south of New Delhi.
The new species was identified by its spikes, scale pattern and other subtle physical features. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 10% genetic divergence from other gecko species.
The research team included Ishan Agarwal, Tejas Thackeray and Akshay Khandekar. The team also discovered a second new species: Geetha Iyer’s dwarf gecko.
This story was originally published September 23, 2024 at 1:57 PM with the headline "Spiky ‘dwarf’-like creature seen climbing rocks in India turns out to be new species."
