Important Facts For Prelims
New Species of Urban Lizard
- 17 Feb 2020
- 2 min read
- A new species of lizard, the urban bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus urbanus) was discovered in Guwahati, Assam.
- The bent-toed gecko was earlier thought to be the same as the Khasi Hills lizard.
- All bent-toed geckos in Northeast India were thought to be a single species, the Cyrtodactylus khasiensis found primarily in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya.
- Although the urban bent-toed gecko falls within the khasiensis group, it differs from other members of this group in mitochondrial sequence data and aspects of morphology (Branch of biology that deals with form and structure of plants and animals).
- Markedly Different: The new species of lizard is also markedly different in molecular structure, blotch and colour from the Cyrtodactylus guwahatiensis, or the Guwahati bent-toed gecko, that was discovered two years ago.
- Urbanization is a major threat to the survival of geckos.
- Guwahati is home to numerous important species. The city provides an edge for urban biodiversity to thrive because it encompasses 18 hills, 8 reserve forests, 2 wildlife sanctuaries and a Ramsar Site (Deepor Beel) besides the Brahmaputra river.
Gecko
- Geckos are (suborder Gekkota), any of more than 1,000 species of lizards making up 6 families of the suborder Gekkota.
- Geckos are mostly small, usually nocturnal reptiles with soft skin.
