A group of researchers has discovered a new species of bent-toed gecko from Agasthyamalai hills in the Western Ghats. The species has been given the name Aravind’s ground gecko after noted malacologist N.A. Aravind.
The new species, which has been given the scientific name Cyrtodactylus aravindi. It has been described based on its distinctness in the morphological and molecular DNA data.
It has so far been found only at two locations, Muppanddal and Thuckalay, in Kanyakumari district falling within the Agasthyamalai biosphere reserve in Tamil Nadu.
Geckos are reptiles, that are found on all continents except Antarctica. These lizards have adapted to habitats ranging from rainforests, deserts, to cold mountain slopes.