This finding of a new species of slender gecko by scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) is a breakthrough in Indian herpetology. The species belongs to the genus Hemiphyllodactylus, and it was discovered within the Tirumala Hill ranges within the Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve, which is among the most abundant biosphere reserves in India, and is under-explored.
The new species has been named as Hemiphyllodactylus venkatadri sp. nov. in honour of its place of discovery, the Bowling Rock of Venkatadri Hills, Tirumala. It gets its name after the Sanskrit words Venkata and Adri, which mean holy hill.
This was discovered after a joint research study by the scientists working at the Freshwater Biology Regional Centre of ZSI, in cooperation with the reptilia Section and Fakir Mohan University, in the Herpetozoa international journal. Molecular analysis confirmed the specificity of the species being examined, and a 9.7-12.9 per cent genetic distance separated the species and essentially allied ones in peninsular India, including H. jnana, H. nilgiriensis and H. penissularis.
The main morphological characteristics, distinguishing the Venkatadri Slender Gecko, are 12-16 chin scales, 6-8 pre-cloacal pores and 5-7 femoral pores distinguished by poreless scales. The reptile had been spotted under the bark of a tree in a sandalwood plantation with tropical dry deciduous forest around and a height of approximately 881 meters.
ZSI Director Dhriti Banerjee attached significance to the discovery as it is the second species of genus Hemiphyllodactylus to be reported in Andhra Pradesh, the first being H. arakuensis. She emphasised the fact that the Eastern Ghats still remains one of the least known biogeographic locations in India, but has been noted to be a consistent source of reptile species.
Banerjee further told about the Venkatadri Slender Gecko discovery and said that more systematic and molecular studies should be conducted in the region since it has great opportunities which could reveal more biodiversity.
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