New gecko from Assam named after Forest Department

GUWAHATI

A new species of bent-toed gecko, recorded from the montane forests of central Assam’s Dima Hasao district, has been named after the State’s Forest Department.

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

Their study has been published in the latest online issue of the Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity.

The species was spotted from the forested slopes of Dima Hasao’s Jatinga, a unique ecological transition zone within the Barail Hills. Characterised by its distinctive morphology and confirmed through molecular analysis, the species belongs to the Cyrtodactylus khasiensis group, which is known for high levels of endemism and restricted distributions.

The researchers stated that the word “vanarakshaka,” derived from the Sanskrit words “vana” (forest) and “rakshaka” (protector), refers to the Assam Forest Department. They used this term for the gecko as a tribute to the department’s efforts in protecting forests and conserving Assam’s biodiversity, particularly lesser-known groups such as amphibians and reptiles.

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

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

This finding has increased the number of Cyrtodactylus species known from Assam to five, highlighting the urgent need for continued field-based surveys in the State’s hill ecosystems.