‘Large’ forest creature — with silver-blue spikes — discovered as new species. See it
As sunlight filtered through a forest of southern India, a “large” creature with “silver-blue” spikes sat on a rock. Something about the “long”-fingered animal caught the attention of passing scientists.
It turned out to be a new species.
Researchers visited a wooded estate in Tamil Nadu in 2022 to survey wildlife, according to a study published June 14 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. The visit was part of an ongoing project to document the state’s diverse lizards.
While searching the forest, researchers found several geckos with colorful spikes, the study said. They took a closer look at the animals and quickly realized they’d discovered a new species: Cnemaspis tenkasiensis, or the Tenkasi dwarf gecko.
Tenkasi dwarf geckos are considered “large-sized,” reaching about 4.3 inches in length, the study said. They have “slender” bodies dotted with “silver-blue” spikes, “small” red eyes and “long” fingers with “strong” claws.
Photos show the colorful new species. Overall, its body is “olive-brown” with a scattering of darker brown markings and pale blue spots. Its head has mustard yellow hues while its tail alternates between black and silver-blue bands.
Another photo shows the muted brown coloring of a juvenile Tenkasi dwarf gecko. Researchers did not find any females of the new species.
Tenkasi dwarf geckos live in “evergreen forest patches” between elevations of 3,300 and 3,900 feet, the study said. The lizards were found perched on rocks and active during the day.
Researchers said they named the new species after Tenkasi District where it was first discovered and, so far, the only area where it has been found. Tenkasi District is in Tamil Nadu and near the southern tip of India, a roughly 1,700-mile drive south from New Delhi.
The new species was identified by its size, coloring, spikes, scale pattern and DNA, the study said.
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 Valparai dwarf gecko.
This story was originally published June 18, 2024 at 12:09 PM.
