Question: Recently six new lizards’ species of which family has been discovered by scientists in Western Ghats?
(a) Anguidae
(b) Xenosauridae
(c) Anniellidae
(d) Dravidogecko
Answer: (d)
Related facts:
- A group of scientists led by Bengaluru-based herpetologist R Chaitanya have discovered the six new lizard species of Dravidogecko family in the Western Ghats.
- The research paper describing the new species was published in the Zootaxa journal of New Zealand on 21st October, 2019.
- The six new species have been named as Dravidogecko septentrionalis, D janakiae (after botanist Janaki Ammal from Kerala), D tholpalli, D meghamalaiensis, D douglasadamsi (after British author and satirist Douglas Noel Adams) and D smithi (in honour of British herpetologist Malcolm Arthur Smith).
- Till recently, only one species (of Dravidogecko anamallensis described in 1875 by German-born British zoologist Albert Gunther) was recognised under this genus, which was perceived to be widespread across the Western Ghats
- The study indicates the importance of Western Ghats, the world heritage mountain range traversing the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat, as a biodiversity hotspot.
- Dravidogecko is a small size lizard restricted to wet forests in mid to high elevations.
- The reptile is found in the mountain range from Wayanad (Kerala) in north up to Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu) in south along the length of the southern Western Ghats.
- Dravidogecko anamallensis evolved around 58 million years ago when the Indian sub-continent was separated from the African land.
Links:
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/6-new-lizard-species-found-in-western-ghats-by-scientists-119102200248_1.html
https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/six-new-lizard-species-found-in-western-ghats-1611757-2019-10-22