Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Researchers found a new bent-toed gecko species in the Umrangso area of Assam. They named the lizard Cyrtodactylus dimensis. The team published their findings in the Journal of Threatened Taxa. Krijoboti Thaosen, Mathipi Vabeiryureilai, Mara Duasa Hlychho, and Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga led the study. These researchers work with Mizoram University and other institutions.
The team hit the field between August 2025 and July 2026. They spent seven nights searching rocky micro habitats around Umrangso. Genetic analysis confirmed the find. They also compared the physical scale arrangement and body structures of the gecko against other members of the Cyrtodactylus khasiensis group. The results show distinct differences.
This gecko belongs to the Indo-Burma region lineage. It sits close to Cyrtodactylus vanarakshaka, another species from the same district, but genetic markers set it apart. Assam now claims eight recorded Cyrtodactylus species. The Dima Hasao district sits within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. Scientists believe that isolation and unique terrain drive this local evolution. The study states, "The researchers noted that the species is closely related to Cyrtodactylus vanarakshaka, another gecko species described from Dima Hasao, but differs in its genetic and morphological characteristics."
Experts want more surveys. They need to map out the full extent of reptile diversity in the hills. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, funded this work. This discovery proves that Northeast India still hides many undocumented creatures.
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