What are the key characteristics and unique aspects of the newly discovered Dravidogecko coonoor?

 What are the key characteristics and unique aspects of the newly discovered Dravidogecko coonoor?

Here are the key characteristics and unique aspects of the newly discovered Dravidogecko coonoor:

•Formal Name and Discovery Location: The new species is formally named Dravidogecko coonoor. It was discovered in Coonoor, a region in the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, which is part of the Western Ghats, India. The paper detailing its discovery is titled ‘Code-compliant description of a recently identified district Dravidogecko species from Coonoor, Western Ghats, India’ and was published in ‘Bionomina’. The authors of the paper are A. Abinesh, R.S. Naveen, A.N. Srikanthan, S. Babu, and S.R. Ganesh.

•Endemicity and Limited Known Range: Dravidogecko coonoor is endemic to the Western Ghats. It is currently believed to be present only around Coonoor, making it a distinct population within the Upper Nilgiris. As far as known with certainty, its presence is currently confined to its type locality, Coonoor.

•Distinction from Other Species: Initially, the gecko from Coonoor was thought to be the same species as Hemidactylus anamallensis (now known as Dravidogecko anamallensis). However, extensive surveys across the Western Ghats led to the discovery of eight other Dravidogecko species, distinguishing the Coonoor gecko as a separate entity. With this new discovery, the total number of Dravidogecko species found across the Western Ghats now stands at nine.

•Habitat Adaptability: This species has been noted in both urban and natural habitats. Specifically, researchers found them on the walls of buildings, on plant branches, and in tree bark and wall crevices. The general habitat in Coonoor is characterized by a mix of montane forests and monoculture plantations amidst human habitations, with human influence and settlement being dominant and only partial vegetation cover.

•Potentially Threatened Status: Dravidogecko coonoor is considered a "potentially threatened gecko species". A significant concern is that its known population exists entirely outside the protected area network. This makes the species highly susceptible to population decline due to factors such as habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and potentially climate change.

•Unique High-Elevation Endemism: Dravidogecko is notable as the only gecko species endemic to the high elevation regions of the Western Ghats.

Where was the new gecko species discovered?

The new gecko species, Dravidogecko coonoor, was discovered in Coonoor, which is a region within the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu. This area is part of the Western Ghats, India. Specifically, the formal name of the species refers to a "distinct population of Dravidogecko in Coonoor Hills of the Upper Nilgiris, Western Ghats, India". As far as is known with certainty, its presence is currently confined to its "type locality Coonoor".