KANNUR: Scientists have discovered two new species of Day Gecko in the Western Ghat part of Wayanad and the midland hillocks of Kozhikode district, which is also under threat of illegal mining.
The new species are named as Cnemaspischengodumalaensis and Cnemaspiszacharyi and the discovery is a part of a five-year study to document the biodiversity in the unprotected midland hillocks in different parts of Kerala.
Cnemaspischengodumalaensis is named after Chengodumala hills at Kottur panchayat in Kozhikode district, which is now facing a huge threat from illegal granite mining, said researchers.
Cnemaspiszacharyi, which was discovered from the hills of
Wayanad district
, is named in honour of Dr Anil Zachariah, renowned veterinary surgeon who has discovered many new amphibians in the Western Ghats.
Both species are medium to large-sized Day Gecko and can be differentiated from all other Indian congeners by a suite of distinct morphological and genetic characters. Both species are predominantly found in rocky outcrops within forested patches outside protected areas in north Kerala, which are currently under threat from illegal quarrying and other unplanned developmental activities.
The discovery of Cnemaspischengodumalaensis from Chengodumala hills justifies the concerns raised by the anti-mining committee, which includes panchayat members, other local members and stakeholders, regarding the lack of proper biodiversity and environmental assessment of the area, according to researchers. The committee has currently demanded a reassessment of the environmental impact study of the quarry in question.
The discovery of these novel species outside protected areas highlights the conservation value of rocky outcrops outside wildlife sanctuaries and national parks and calls for urgent need to document the species across protected areas and non-protected areas of the Western Ghats as well as the midland hillocks of Kerala, said Dr Muhamed Jafer Palot, scientist, Zoological Survey of India, Pune, who was part of the research team.
“This reminds us about the importance of protecting the midland hillocks in Kerala and highlight the urgent need of conducting detailed biodiversity assessments before issuing permits for mining and quarrying in the future,” he said.
The other team members are
Dr Vivek Philip Cyriac
, research fellow, Indian Institute of Science Education & Research, Thiruvananthapuram; Dr Koushik Deuti, scientist, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata and Umesh Pavukandy, an independent researcher and naturalist associated with the CGH Earth group of companies.
The finding has been published in the latest edition of the International Journal of Vertebrate Zoology, Germany. With this discovery, the total number of Day Geckoes of Kerala raised to 16 species and 22 in the Western Ghats. All the Day Geckoes are endemic to the Western Ghats and many of them are known only from the narrow geographic region. With this addition, the total diversity of reptiles of Kerala has now been updated to 193 species, according to researchers.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, Location Guesser and Mini Crossword. Sudhakaran is Special Correspondent with The Times of India in Ka...
Read MoreSudhakaran is Special Correspondent with The Times of India in Kannur. He was with The New Indian Express and Cyber Media in Bangalore. He has been in the field of journalism for the past 14 years.
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