Clawed creature with ‘bent' toes found along road in India. It's a new species
Visiting scientists noticed the patterned animal — and discovered a new species.
A team of researchers ventured into the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, India, in May 2024 to survey its reptiles and amphibians. The state sits in the western Himalayas, a 'known biodiversity hotspot' with some 'less well-investigated' areas, according to a study published July 22 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa.
During their surveys, researchers stopped on a road at the 'outskirts' of a village and found four unfamiliar-looking lizards, the study said. Intrigued, they took a closer look at the animals, analyzed its DNA and realized they'd identified a new species: Cyrtodactylus himachalensis, or the Himachal bent-toed gecko.
Himachal bent-toed geckos are considered 'medium-sized,' reaching over 4 inches in length, the study said. They have 'slender' limbs and 'relatively short' arms. Their fingers and toes are 'short,' 'strongly flexed at (the) joints' and 'equipped with robust recurved claws.'
Photos show the new species' 'vivid' pattern. The geckos vary in hue, but generally have a lighter brown body with darker brownish-black patches running down their backs and limbs.
Himachal bent-toed geckos were found 'along a road' at an elevation of 4,400 feet, the study said. The area had 'recently burned, and the floor of the forest was blackened due to the fire. The density of the lizards was low, likely due to the forest degradation and construction work along the road.'
Much about the lifestyle and behavior of the new species remains unknown.
Researchers said they named the new species after Himachal Pradesh where it was first discovered and, so far, the only place where it has been found. This state is in northern India, bordering Tibet.
Himachal bent-toed geckos were identified by their scales, pores, coloring, texture and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 4% genetic divergence from related species.
The research team included Virender Bhardwaj, Jayaditya Purkayastha, H. T. Lalremsanga and Zeeshan Mirza.
The team also discovered a second new species of bent-toed gecko in Jammu and Kashmir.
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Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Miami Herald
Clawed creature with ‘bent' toes found along road in India. It's a new species
Along a narrow mountain road snaking through the Himalayas, a clawed creature with 'bent' toes moved along the ground. Its coppery eyes scanned the charred landscape, but it wasn't the only one looking around. Visiting scientists noticed the patterned animal — and discovered a new species. A team of researchers ventured into the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, India, in May 2024 to survey its reptiles and amphibians. The state sits in the western Himalayas, a 'known biodiversity hotspot' with some 'less well-investigated' areas, according to a study published July 22 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. During their surveys, researchers stopped on a road at the 'outskirts' of a village and found four unfamiliar-looking lizards, the study said. Intrigued, they took a closer look at the animals, analyzed its DNA and realized they'd identified a new species: Cyrtodactylus himachalensis, or the Himachal bent-toed gecko. Himachal bent-toed geckos are considered 'medium-sized,' reaching over 4 inches in length, the study said. They have 'slender' limbs and 'relatively short' arms. Their fingers and toes are 'short,' 'strongly flexed at (the) joints' and 'equipped with robust recurved claws.' Photos show the new species' 'vivid' pattern. The geckos vary in hue, but generally have a lighter brown body with darker brownish-black patches running down their backs and limbs. Himachal bent-toed geckos were found 'along a road' at an elevation of 4,400 feet, the study said. The area had 'recently burned, and the floor of the forest was blackened due to the fire. The density of the lizards was low, likely due to the forest degradation and construction work along the road.' Much about the lifestyle and behavior of the new species remains unknown. Researchers said they named the new species after Himachal Pradesh where it was first discovered and, so far, the only place where it has been found. This state is in northern India, bordering Tibet. Himachal bent-toed geckos were identified by their scales, pores, coloring, texture and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 4% genetic divergence from related species. The research team included Virender Bhardwaj, Jayaditya Purkayastha, H. T. Lalremsanga and Zeeshan Mirza. The team also discovered a second new species of bent-toed gecko in Jammu and Kashmir.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
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Creature discovered near waterfall on perilous island mountain is a new species
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Miami Herald
15-07-2025
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‘Spectacular' sapphire-blue species discovered on Angola's highest mountain peak
On Angola's highest mountain, a brilliant sapphire-colored butterfly was observed basking in the sun. After flying about and surveying its territory, the creature spent 'long periods sunning itself' on the side of a tree in the high-altitude forests on Mount Moco. Now, researcher Alan John Gardiner has determined the remarkable specimen is actually a new species of Iolaus butterfly, according to a study published July 8 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. Iolaus francisi, or the Francis's gorgeous sapphire, is described as having wings with an upper side that's shiny blue and black and an underside that is 'silver white,' according to the study. The coloration on the species upper wings can reflect different shades of blue depending on the angle and the light, Gardiner said. It's hind wings have a pattern that resembles a large eye called an 'eyespot,' according to the study. This patterning can serve as a defense against predators. 'It is remarkable that such spectacular invertebrates as I. francisi remain undocumented,' Gardiner said in the study. The study suggests the number of butterfly species in Angola may be greatly underestimated, with many yet undiscovered. The current figure of 792 recorded species may actually be 1,100 to 1,600, according to Gardiner. To date, Francis's gorgeous sapphire has only been found in Angola's central highlands forests, at elevations of about 5,000 feet. These forests are extremely fragmented, however, and getting smaller due to human pressures, according to Gardiner. 'Only a few patches of relatively undisturbed habitat remain,' Gardiner said. 'They remain mostly due to their being inaccessible as they are on steep slopes or in rugged rocky areas.' These patches are under threat from agriculture, logging, excessive fires and high livestock densities, and they're rapidly being depleted, Gardiner said. The study calls for a greater push to document new species and protect the areas in which they are found.
