Cyrtodactylus vanarakshaka: New Gecko from Dima Hasao
Why in the news
Researchers have reported a new gecko, Cyrtodactylus vanarakshaka, from the montane forests of Dima Hasao district in central Assam.
Key facts
- Type: bent-toed gecko in the genus Cyrtodactylus.
- Location: forested slopes of Jatinga in the Barail Hills, Dima Hasao.
- Group: Cyrtodactylus khasiensis group, known for high endemism.
- Name: Sanskrit for ‘forest protector’, honouring the Assam Forest Department and staff who gave their lives for conservation.
- Identification used both physical (morphological) study and molecular analysis.
About the Barail Hills
The Barail Hills act as a natural ecological corridor and transition zone that supports varied plants and animals. The gecko’s presence points to a healthy forest ecosystem.
Exam angle
- Note the district (Dima Hasao), state (Assam) and hill range (Barail).
- Species names in Sanskrit are often asked: vanarakshaka means forest protector.
- Reptile discoveries underline the value of field surveys in Northeast India.