Gadag: A night survey in a privately developed mini forest on the outskirts of Gadag turned into a moment of quiet excitement when a rare gecko species, not commonly reported from the district, was spotted by a biodiversity researcher and a conservation enthusiast.
While surveying reptiles and amphibians in an 11-acre artificial mini forest created by dentist-turned-conservationist Pradeep S Ugalat at Huvilagole village, he, and biodiversity researcher Manjunath S Nayak stumbled upon a species he had never recorded in the district before — the Graceful Leaf-toed Gecko, also known as the Square Spotted Gecko.
The species was described from Hubballi grasslands in 2023 by Ishan Agarwal of the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation and his team.
“The Graceful Leaf-toed Gecko, is a small, slender, ground-dwelling gecko endemic to India. Found in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and recently this Graceful Leaf-toed Gecko described from Hubballi in North Karnataka,” Manjunath stated.
Scientifically known as Hemidactylus gracilis, the Graceful Leaf-toed Gecko is a small, slender, ground-dwelling reptile endemic to India. It is typically found in grasslands, scrublands and dry forests, often hiding under rocks or in ground crevices. The species is identifiable by its grey body marked with distinct square-shaped dark brown spots, giving it its popular name.
“The distribution of Graceful Leaf-toed Gecko Confined to Indian states Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. It is primarily terrestrial and nocturnal, hiding under rocks or in cracks in the ground, typically found in wooded areas,” he said.
He added that based on recent studies and biodiversity checklists, there are approximately 1900 to over recognized species of geckos worldwide. In India, there is a high diversity of geckos, with more than 220 species known to inhabit the country, constituting a significant portion of its reptilian diversity.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
