7 days ago
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.
