Jauns gekons no Asamas, kas nosaukts pēc Meža departamenta

Guwahati

A new species of bent-backed gecko recorded from the Montane forests of Dima Hasao district of Central Assam has been named after the state forest department.

The species, Cyrtodactylus Vanarakshaka was described by Manmath Bharali, Krijoboti Thaosen, Mathipi Vabeiryureilai, Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga, Jayaditya Purkayastha, Rupankara Bhattacharjee, Madhurima Das, and Sanath Chandra Bohra.

Their study is published in the latest online issue of the Asian and Pacific Biodiversity Journal in the field.

The species was spotted from the slopes of the Dima Hasao Jatinga forest, a unique ecological transition zone in the Baraila Mountains. Characterized by its distinct morphology and confirmed by molecular analysis, the species belongs to the Cyrtodactylus khasiensis Group, which is known for its high level of endemism and restricted distribution.

The researchers said the name “Vanarakshaka ,” derived from the Sanskrit words “Vana” (forest) and “Rakshaka” (to protect), refers to the Assam Forest Department. They used the term for the gecko as a tribute to the department’s efforts to protect forests and conserve Assam’s biodiversity, especially lesser-known groups like amphibians and reptiles.

It also recognizes the sacrifices of frontline workers, many of whom have laid down their lives in the line of duty, the researchers said.

“The support from the Forest Department has been crucial as amphibians and reptiles are often overlooked, yet form a vital part of Assam’s ecological heritage,” said Dr. Purkayastha of Help Earth, a biodiversity conservation organization.

This discovery has increased the number of Cyrtodactylus species known from Assam to five, highlighting the urgent need for further field surveys in the hill ecosystems of the state.