A new gecko species was discovered from the hills of Attappady, in the Western Ghats, Kerala.
- The new large species of gecko belongs to the genus Hemidactylus goldfuss, and its has been named Hemidactylus easai after former director of the Kerala Forest and Reasearch Institute (KFRI) and wildlife conservationist PS Easa,
- The gecko species measures 105 mm from snout to vent (10.5 cm) and is a light brown to grey in colour. The genus Hemidactylus goldfuss has 180 species of geckos distributed across the globe and India has 48.
- Kerala has over 30 species of gecko and with this new addition, there are nine under the Hemidactylus genus.
- The discovery report was published in the Vertebrate Zoology journal in February 2022.
What are Geckos?
- Geckos are reptiles and are found on all the continents except Antarctica.
- Gecko tails serve many purposes. They help balance their weight as they climb branches, they act as fuel tanks to store fat, and as camouflage to help them disappear into their environment. Geckos are also able to shed their tails if a predator grabs them.
(Source: TH, NGC)
GS TIMES UPSC PRELIMS & MAINS CURRENT AFFAIRS BASED BASICS DAILY ONLINE TEST CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ FOR STATE CIVIL SERVICES
