NEW GECKO SPECIES (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, the scientific community officially introduced the newly discovered species, 'Cyrtodactylus vairengtensis,' named after the town in Mizoram where it was found, and proposed the common name 'Vairengte bent-toed gecko.'

New Gecko Species

• Name of Species: ‘Cyrtodactylus vairengtensis
• Found in: Mizoram
• Suggested Common Name: Vairengte bent-toed gecko
• Features: Number of femoral pores that distinguishes it from other members of the Cyrtodactylus family.
• Femoral pores, found on the underside of the hind legs in lizards, secrete a mixture of lipids and proteins, believed to be used for attracting mates and marking territories.
• Endemic to Mizoram, the new species increases the count of geckos native to the state to 6 and 22 across northeast India.
• Across the world, there are 335 gecko species, with 42 of them being found in India.

Gecko

• About: These are reptiles and are found on all the continents except Antarctica.
• Adapted to a range of environments, from rainforests to deserts and cold mountain slopes, these colorful lizards showcase remarkable versatility.
• Generally small and primarily nocturnal, these reptiles form a diverse group.
• Spread across 6 families: Carphodactylidae, Diplodactylidae, Eublepharidae, Gekkonidae, Phyllodactylidae, and Sphaerodactylidae.