MADURAI: Researchers have discovered a new species of reptile, a rock living gecko, in Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. The Megamalai rock gecko, which is its advised not unusual identify, is the first description of a reptile from this landscape since 1949 after English planter and naturalist Angus Finlay Hutton noticed Hutton's pit viper there.
The large seized gecko, rising as much as a period of 20 centimeters from head to tail-tip, is presently recognized only from the confines of Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, in line with a group of researchers consisting of R Chaitanya, a herpetologist learning Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Aparna Lajmi from the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and Dr Varad Giri from National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore.
"This is a second time, a reptile species is found in Megamalai and this particular gecko is found only in Megamalai region," mentioned Chaitanya.
An article on this new species used to be revealed via the researchers at Zootaxa, a world peer-reviewed journal devoted to taxonomical research, on January 17.
Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Megamalai Wildlife Division spreads over 636 sq. kilometers in Theni district bordering the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala, thus crucial buffer zone for tiger inhabitants along with being crucial elephant corridor. The sanctuary has 10 % general inhabitants of lion-tailed macaque and Tamil Nadu's state animal, Nilgiri tahr. This is also one of the vital few puts where Great Indian Hornbill lives in flooring degree wooded area house.
"Forest department gives thrust to research. We require expertise from researchers from reputed institutions. The team which found this new species is from Indian Institute of Science known for their expertise in subject and it is authentic", mentioned Megamalai flora and fauna warden Rammohan K.
The species is named as Hemidactylus vanam in honour of a non-governmental organization, Vanam (Vaigai Association for Nature Resources and Mountain Ranges) in Theni for its conservation works in Megamalai area.
"Megamalai is a treasure trove waiting to be opened. The new species only indicates that more research is required in the sanctuary", added Vanam's Dr C P Rajkumar who is also honourary flora and fauna warden of the forests in Theni and Madurai districts.
The large seized gecko, rising as much as a period of 20 centimeters from head to tail-tip, is presently recognized only from the confines of Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, in line with a group of researchers consisting of R Chaitanya, a herpetologist learning Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Aparna Lajmi from the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and Dr Varad Giri from National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore.
"This is a second time, a reptile species is found in Megamalai and this particular gecko is found only in Megamalai region," mentioned Chaitanya.
An article on this new species used to be revealed via the researchers at Zootaxa, a world peer-reviewed journal devoted to taxonomical research, on January 17.
Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Megamalai Wildlife Division spreads over 636 sq. kilometers in Theni district bordering the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala, thus crucial buffer zone for tiger inhabitants along with being crucial elephant corridor. The sanctuary has 10 % general inhabitants of lion-tailed macaque and Tamil Nadu's state animal, Nilgiri tahr. This is also one of the vital few puts where Great Indian Hornbill lives in flooring degree wooded area house.
"Forest department gives thrust to research. We require expertise from researchers from reputed institutions. The team which found this new species is from Indian Institute of Science known for their expertise in subject and it is authentic", mentioned Megamalai flora and fauna warden Rammohan K.
The species is named as Hemidactylus vanam in honour of a non-governmental organization, Vanam (Vaigai Association for Nature Resources and Mountain Ranges) in Theni for its conservation works in Megamalai area.
"Megamalai is a treasure trove waiting to be opened. The new species only indicates that more research is required in the sanctuary", added Vanam's Dr C P Rajkumar who is also honourary flora and fauna warden of the forests in Theni and Madurai districts.
New species of reptile found in Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary
![New species of reptile found in Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
January 30, 2018
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