PANAJI: Slim small gecko, hemiphyllodactylus goaensis – Almost no 32mm in the size that can sit in the human finger – has been explained by researchers as a new species of Goa and the North West Gath region.
Goan Slender Gecko is one of the smallest species in India.
“Hemiphyllodactylus Goaensis is only eight species of genus India and 44th globally,” joint writers, Akshay Khandekar, Diikan Parmar and the other two stated in a paper; “The new species of the genus hemiphylllodactylus bleeker, 1860,” published on Zooxa, a zoology journal.
It is also the first animal species described from the University of Goa, “Nitin Sawant, Assistant Professor and Teacher responsible for the Zoological Department, Goa University (GU).
Three specimens are found only in two types of places (where specimens are found in terms Botani) – Two in North Goa in Gu Campus and one in the south in Chandor.
The female specimen was seen by a family maker of Rinku Kumar Gupta on the wooden curtain in their home on September 9, 2020 in Chandor who was surprised to find “unusual reptiles” .
Parmar face first specimen close to midnight at the second building Goa University (GU) on March 18, 2020.
“It was on the wall outside my room – 48 feet above ground level and ten feet above the floor,” Parmar said.
specimens Third also found on the Gu Campus – which is known for its rich plants and other biodiversity, especially reptiles.
Although there are no direct threats that are considered to be Biodiversity, widening of the main district road through the campus has increased the traffic movement.
“But urbanization in and around the campus needs to be regulated to maintain the unique habitat of the species that is difficult to understand,” Sawant said, added that this finding would inspire young researchers in the field.
Researchers, as part of the Ministry of Environment and Forest Project on the diversity of Herpetofauna in Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka do more surveys.
This will help in assessing the distribution and diversity of news species or one more species in Goa.