A new species of gecko, Dravidogecko coonoor, has been discovered in the Coonoor Hills, Upper Nilgiris, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu.
Scientific Name –Dravidogecko coonoor
Family – Gekkonidae (Geckos)
Endemic to – Coonoor Hills, Upper Nilgiris, Western Ghats.
It brings the total known Dravidogecko species in the Western Ghats to nine.
Geckos
Geckos – They are small to medium-sized lizards belonging to the family Gekkonidae.
They are known for their ability to climb vertical surfaces and ceilings, by specialised toe pads.
India hosts a rich diversity of geckos, particularly in biodiversity hotspots like the Western Ghats, Northeast India, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Notable Indian genera:
Hemidactylus (common house geckos)
Cyrtodactylus (bent-toed geckos)
Dravidogecko (endemic to Western Ghats)
Habitat – It is found in high-elevation regions of the Western Ghats, specifically around Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.
It prefers montane forest edges, plantations, and urban areas like walls of buildings, tree bark, crevices, and vegetation near human settlements.
It occurs in matrix habitats a mix of fragmented forest patches and monoculture plantations amidst human habitation.
Ecological significance– Itis unique to the high-elevation regions of the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot.
It controls insect populations, especially pests like mosquitoes and cockroaches.
It is the prey for birds, snakes, and larger lizards—important in food webs.
Physical features – A small to medium-sized gecko and distinct from its close relatives by subtle morphological differences, noted during field studies.
It displays typical gecko features like adhesive toe pads suited for climbing.
Threats
Habitat fragmentation – Due to urbanisation, expansion of tea/coffee plantations.
Deforestation – Clearing of forest patches for human activities.
Climate Change – Potential impact on montane ecosystems affecting species distribution.
