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Scaly creature emerges from rocks in darkness. It turns out to be new species in India

Surrounded by the forest of southern India, a scaly creature emerged from its rocky dwelling. It scanned the darkened landscape with golden, “marbled”-looking eyes.

The creature caught the attention of passing scientists who took a closer look — and discovered a new species.

Researchers in 2011 set out to explore the Periyar Plateau, “one of the most under-surveyed” regions in the Western Ghats mountain range, according to a study published May 30 in the European Journal of Taxonomy. They’d seen reports of a creature living in this area, but no one had studied the reptile in depth.

Searching the hilly forests, researchers found six lizards, four of which they collected, the study said. They analyzed the animals and discovered a new species, giving it the name Beddome’s Dravidogecko, or Dravidogecko beddomei.

Beddome’s Dravidogecko has a creamy brown coloring with darker brown markings on its back, researchers said. It has golden eyes with “marbled” irises. Photos show two of these geckos perched on branches.

The new gecko species is scaly and can reach between about 3.8 inches and about 4.4 inches in size, the study said. The gecko is nocturnal and lives in the rocks.

Two specimens of Beddome’s Dravidogecko, or Dravidogecko beddomei.
Two specimens of Beddome’s Dravidogecko, or Dravidogecko beddomei.

The new species was identified as morphologically distinct from its relatives based on the size and arrangement of its scales, the study said.

DNA analysis confirmed the Beddome’s Dravidogecko’s distinctiveness, researchers said. The new species had between about 13% and 22% genetic divergence from other related species.

Dravidogeckos are a lizard group endemic to the Western Ghats region, the study said. The categorization of this group is “contentious and unsettled.”

The habitat where Beddome’s Dravidogecko was found.
The habitat where Beddome’s Dravidogecko was found.

The new species was named after Col. Richard Henry Beddome, who pioneered amphibian and reptile surveys in the area of the Western Ghats where the researchers found the lizards, researchers said. He lived from 1830 to 1911.

Beddome’s Dravidogeckos were found in the Periyar Plateau region, which spans Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the study said. The plateau is about 1,525 miles south of New Delhi.

The gecko’s distribution range included a protected tiger reserve and two religious pilgrimage sites, researchers said.

Researchers noted that Beddome’s Dravidogecko is still “a poorly known species.” They encouraged further research into this and other Dravidogecko species.

The research team included Omkar Adhikari, Achyuthan Srikanthan and S.R. Ganesh.

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