Guwahati (Assam) [India], April 13 (HBTV): A new species of gecko, Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis, has been discovered near Raimona National Park in Assam’s Kokrajhar district, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday.
The Raimona bent-toed gecko has been named after Raimona National Park.
Sharing an excerpt from the journal Zootaxa on X, the Chief Minister said the state government would continue to protect habitats of various species and support scientific research.
‘A remarkable discovery from Assam. A new species of gecko, Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis, has been found near Raimona National Park in Kokrajhar district and named after the park itself, highlighting the rich biodiversity of our state. We will continue to protect these habitats and support scientific research, ensuring Assam’s natural heritage is preserved and better understood for generations to come,’ he wrote.
Geckos are small lizards, and according to the Zootaxa article, the Raimona bent-toed gecko belongs to the Cyrtodactylus septentrionalis group based on gene sequence data.
The species has a moderate adult size, with a maximum snout-vent length (SVL) of 71.1 mm. It is described as having a rounded and bluntly conical form.
According to the Assam government, Raimona National Park is located in the westernmost part of the state at the southern foothills of the Eastern Himalaya. Along with the Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary in Bhutan and the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal, it forms a transboundary conservation landscape spanning more than 2,400 square kilometres. The park lies at an altitude ranging from 85 metres to 1,042 metres above sea level.
The Bodoland Territorial Region government administers the park, with the Kachugaon Forest Division serving as its managing authority.
The park is home to several species, including the endangered golden langur, Asian elephant, Royal Bengal tiger, clouded leopard, Indian gaur, wild buffalo, spotted deer and hornbills. It also hosts several species of orchids, more than 150 species of butterflies, 170 species of birds and around 380 species of plants.
(ANI)