List Of New Species

A Growing Archive of India’s Hidden Biodiversity — Species Discovered Through Our Research

Sr. No.FamilyScientific NameCommon NameAuthorityYearJournalType LocalityStateCountryEtymologyDOI NumberPosters
1GekkonidaeHemiphyllodactylus nilgiriensisNilgiris slender geckoAGARWAL, BAUER, PAL, SRIKANTHAN & KHANDEKAR2020ZootaxaMulli view point, KilkundaTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Nilgiri mountain range or Nilgiris, to which the new species is restrictedHereHere
2GekkonidaeHemiphyllodactylus peninsularisKMTR slender geckoAGARWAL, BAUER, PAL, SRIKANTHAN & KHANDEKAR2020ZootaxaSengaltheri, Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger ReserveTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet comes from the Latin paene (almost) and insula (island), reflecting the isolated nature of the montane type locality of the new species at the southern extreme of the Indian peninsula.HereHere
3GekkonidaeCyrtodactylus urbanusUrban bent-toed geckoPURKAYASTHA, DAS, BOHIRA, BAUER & AGARWAL2020ZootaxaBasistha, GuwahatiAssamIndiaThe specific epithet is an adjective meaning of or belonging to a city and reflects the urban habitat
of the species, through which we also wish to highlight the importance of urban biodiversity. We propose Urban
bent-toed gecko as common name for the gecko.
HereHere
4GekkonidaeCnemaspis bangaraGolden striped dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY, PAL, & KHANDEKAR2020Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Researchnear Aadima theatre, Paparajanahalli village, near KolarKarnatakaIndiaThe specific epithet is the Kannada word for gold, used as a noun in apposition. The name is given for the yellow tail tip of the species and that the type locality of the species is just 27 km straight-line distance from the largest gold mine in India, Kolar Gold Fields.HereHere
5GekkonidaeCnemaspis graniticolaGranite dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY, PAL, & KHANDEKAR2020Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary ResearchHorsley HillsAndhra PradeshIndiaThe species is named for the granite rock formations to which it appears restrictedHereHere
6GekkonidaeCnemaspis yelagiriensisYelagiri dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY, PAL, & KHANDEKAR2020Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary ResearchYelagiri HillsTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Yelagiri hills in Vellore District of Tamil Nadu, the type and only known locality for this species.HereHere
7GekkonidaeCnemaspis magnificaMagnificent dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, PAL, & AGARWAL2020ZootaxaMookanana resort, Yadekumari village , SakleshpurKarnatakaIndiaThe epithet is derived from the Latin magnifico (=magnificent) and is given to this striking species for its large size and conspicuous colour pattern.HereHere
8GekkonidaeCnemaspis avasabinaeNellore dwarf geckoAGARWAL, BAUER & KHANDEKAR2020Zootaxanear PenchalakinaAndhra PradeshIndiaThe specific epithet “avasabinae” honors Ava Sabin of the Sabin family, philanthropic supporters of herpetofaunal conservation.HereHere
9GekkonidaeHemidactylus rishivalleyensisRishi Valley brookiish geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2020ZootaxaCaveRock Hill, Rishi Valley SchoolAndhra PradeshIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Rishi Valley, the type and only known locality for the new species.HereHere
10GekkonidaeCnemaspis rishivalleyensisRishi Valley dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2020ZootaxaCaveRock Hill, Rishi Valley SchoolAndhra PradeshIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Rishi Valley, the type and only known locality for the new species.HereHere
11GekkonidaeCnemaspis stellapulvisStardust dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2020ZootaxaIsolated granite hill near YadiyurKarnatakaIndiaThe specific epithet is an adjective formed by the combination of the Latin words stella and pulvis meaning stardust, an allusion to the prominent grey spots on the dorsum of the new species.HereHere
12GekkonidaeHemidactylus sirumalaiensisSirumalai rock geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, PAWAR, & AGARWAL2020ZootaxaSirumalai massifTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the type locality of the species.HereHere
13GekkonidaeHemiphyllodactylus minimusGanjam rock geckoMOHAPATRA, KHANDEKAR, DUTTA, MAHAPATRA, & AGARWAL2020ZootaxaJhadeswar Shiva Temple, HummaOdishaIndiaThe specific epithet is the Latin word for smallest as this is the smallest known species of the genus Hemiphyllodactylus.HereHere
15GekkonidaeHemidactylus hannahsabinaeCERIACO, AGARWAL, MARQUES & BAUER2020ZootaxaPavalange, Luando Natural Reserve,Bié ProvinceAngolaThe specific epithet hannahsabinae honors Hannah Sabin of the Sabin family, philanthropic
supporters of herpetofaunal conservation
HereHere
16GekkonidaeHemidactylus vernayiCERIACO, AGARWAL, MARQUES & BAUER2020ZootaxaLobito,Benguela ProvinceAngolahe specific epithet “vernayi”, formed in the genitive singular and is masculine, is given in honor
of Arthur Stannard Vernay (1877–1960), English-born American explorer and philanthropist who funded and
organized the Vernay Angolan Expedition for the American Museum of Natural History, where the type series were
collected. Vernay also supported the Vernay-Lang Kalahari Expedition for the Transvaal Museum, on which the
herpetologist V.F. FitzSimons (1901–1975) made important reptile discoveries. We propose the Portuguese common
name of “Osga de Vernay”, and the English common name of “Vernay’s Tropical Gecko”.
HereHere
17GekkonidaeHemidactylus xericolusNalgonda yellow- tailed brookish geckoLAJMI, GIRI, SINGH & AGARWAL2020Zootaxanear MarriguddaTelanganaIndiaThe specific epithet is a masculine adjective derived from the Greek xeros (= dry) and the Latincola (= inhabitant of) and is descriptive of the arid, scrub habitats that the new species and many other endemic Indian Hemidactylus inhabit. The name also seeks to bring attention to the neglected and biodiverse Indian dry zone.HereHere
18GekkonidaeHemidactylus flavicaudusMahabubnagar yellow- tailed brookish geckoLAJMI, GIRI, SINGH & AGARWAL2020Zootaxanear Guddeguda villageTelanganaIndiaThe specific epithet is an adjective derived from the Latin flavus (= yellow) and cauda (= tail), for the yellow tail of the new species.HereHere
20GekkonidaeCnemaspis schalleriSchaller's Sakleshpur dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2021ZootaxaMookanana resort, Yadekumari village , SakleshpurKarnatakaIndiaThe specific epithet is a patronym honouring George Beals Schaller, for his contributions to conservation, field research and science. Dr. Schaller has worked across a diversity of landscapes, but his early work was in the grasslands of Kanha, Madhya Pradesh, India and he continues to work on large mammals in the Indian subcontinent.HereHere
21GekkonidaeHemidactylus gramineusCERIACO, BAUER, KUSAMBA, AGARWAL & GREENBAUM2021Journal of Herpetologynear bank of Lumene River,Kinshasa ProvinceCongo (DRC)The specific epithet ‘‘gramineus’’ refers to thegrassy type of habitat from which the species was collected in the DRC and the Republic of the Congo (Fig. 5) and is applied here as an adjective in the genitive singular. We propose the French common name of ‘‘Gecko de l’herbe’’ and the English common name of ‘‘grass-dwelling tropical gecko.’HereHere
22GekkonidaeCnemaspis krishnagiriensisKrishnagiri dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2021Zootaxanear Krishnagiri fortTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Krishnagiri in Krishnagiri District of Tamil Nadu, the type and only known locality for this species.HereHere
23GekkonidaeCnemaspis uttaraghatiHarishchandragad dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2021ZootaxaHarishchandragadMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is used as a noun in apposition and is derived from the Sanskrit ‘uttara’ for north and ‘ghat’ for mountains, as this mountain locality represents the currently known northern limit of Cnemaspis distribution in the Western Ghats.HereHere
26GekkonidaeHemidactylus tamhiniensisTamhini giant rock gecko or basalt giant rock geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2021ZootaxaTamhini GhatMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Tamhini Ghat in Pune and Raigad Districts of Maharashtra, the type and currently only known locality for this species.HereHere
27GekkonidaeHemiphyllodactylus goaensisGoan slender geckoKHANDEKAR, PARMAR, SAWANT & AGARWAL2021ZootaxaGoa universityGoaIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Goa state, to which the new species is currently restricted to.HereHere
35GekkonidaeCyrtodactylus kamengensisMIRZA, BHOSALE, THACKERAY, PHANSALKAR, SAWANT, GOWANDE & PATEL2022HerpetozoaShergaonArunachal PradeshIndiaThe specific epithet refers to the Kameng River in western Arunachal Pradesh close to which the new species was discovered.HereHere
36GekkonidaeCnemaspis tigrisTiger-striped dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2022Vertebrate ZoologyKaiwaraKarnatakaIndiaThe specific epithet is the Latin tigris (tiger), treated here as a noun in apposition, referencing the tiger-like colour pattern in males of the new species with a strongly banded dorsum suffused with yellow.HereHere
37GekkonidaeCnemaspis sakleshpurensisSakleshpur dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2022Vertebrate ZoologyMookanana resort, Yadekumari village , SakleshpurKarnatakaIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Sakleshpur in Hassan district of Karnataka, the place where the species is currently known from.HereHere
38GekkonidaeCnemaspis vijayaeVijaya's Coorg dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2022Vertebrate ZoologyHoney Valley resortKarnatakaIndiaThe specific epithet is a Latinized eponym in honour of India’s first women herpetologist, Late Jagannathan Vijaya (1959–1987) for her inspiring contribution towards ecology of rare Indian turtles.HereHere
41GekkonidaeCnemaspis azhaguThirukurungudi dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2022Vertebrate ZoologyThirukurungudi range, KMTRTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet, azhagu (a-lha-gu, also sometimes transliterated as alaku), is the Tamil word for beauty (அழகு) and is used as a noun in apposition for this beautiful new species.HereHere
42GekkonidaeCnemaspis mundanthuraiensisMundanthurai dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2022Vertebrate ZoologyPapanasam RF, Mundanthurai range, KMTRTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Mundanthurai forest range of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, the type and currently only known locality for this species.HereHere
43GekkonidaeCnemaspis kalakadensisKalakad dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2022Vertebrate ZoologySengaltheri, Kalakadu RF, KMTRTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Kalakad forest range of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, the type and currently only known locality for this species.HereHere
46GekkonidaeCnemaspis salimaliiSalim Ali's dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2022Vertebrate ZoologyNallathambi resort, Semmedu, Kolli hillsTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a patronym honouring the eminent ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali (1896–1987) for his immense contributions to field research and conservation in India.HereHere
47GekkonidaeCnemaspis agayagangaiAgayagangai dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2022Vertebrate Zoologynear Agaya Gangai waterfall, Kolli hillsTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is for the type locality of the new species, the Agaya Gangai Waterfalls, and is used as a noun in apposition.HereHere
48GekkonidaeCnemaspis fantasticaFantastic dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2022Vertebrate Zoologynear Tree view point, Kolli Hills, SolakkaduTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is derived from the Greek phantastikós, alluding to the spectacular colouration of the new species.HereHere
49GekkonidaeCnemaspis pachaimalaiensisPachaimalai dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2022Vertebrate Zoologynear Mangalam waterfalls, Pachaimalai hillsTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Pachaimalai hills in Trichy district of Tamil Nadu, the type and currently only known locality for this species.HereHere
50GekkonidaeCnemaspis rudhiraScarlet dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2022Vertebrate Zoologynear Sri Salaipaarai Muniappan Temple, Yercaud in Shevaroy hill rangeTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is from the Sanskrit rudhira which means blood, alluding to the blood-red colouration of this beautiful species, and is used as a noun in apposition.HereHere
51GekkonidaeCyrtopodion vindhya-PATEL, THACKERAY, MIRZA, VYAS2023ZootaxaUdhal MahudaGujaratIndiaThe specific epithet is a noun in apposition for the Vindhya hill ranges from where the new species was collected.HereHere
52GekkonidaeCyrtodactylus chengodumalaensisChengodumala geckoellaAGARWAL, UMESH, DAS, BAUER & KHANDEKAR2023Journal of HerpetologyKumargiri EstateTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym referring to Chengodumala, a midland hillock where the new species was found in great abundance and some of the type series came from.Chengodumala is under threat from extensive illegal quarrying. We suggest the common names of Chengodumala Geckoella or Coastal Kerala Geckoella.HereHere
53GekkonidaeHemidactylus quartziticolusQuartzite /Thoothukudi brookiish geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, MARIAPPAN, GANGALMALE, WAGHE, PAWAR & AGARWAL2023Vertebrate Zoologynear Jeya Parvathi Amman Kovil, Vallanadu Reserve Forest, ManakkaraiTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a combination of the German noun “quartz” + the Latin suffix -ite (used to denote rocks and minerals) and the Latin suffix -cola that means inhabitant or dweller of, referring to the quartzite rock formations the new species inhabitsHereHere
54GekkonidaeCyrtodactylus irulaorumIrula geckoellaAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2023Vertebrate Zoologya farm near Vallam Reserve ForestTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a patronym in honour of the Irula tribe, an indigenous Dravidian group who are expert snake trackers and catchers. Romulus Whitaker, whose farm the type series was collected at, has worked closely with the Irulas for decades and helped them set up a venom extraction cooperative in 1978. The Irula Snake Catchers’ Industrial Cooperative Society is the largest contributor to antivenom production in IndiaHereHere
55GekkonidaeCyrtodactylus relictusRelict geckoellaAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2023Vertebrate Zoologynear Ubbalamadagu waterfalls, Kambakkam DurgAndhra PradeshIndiaThe specific epithet is from the Latin relictus; which refers to an organism or species that has survived from an earlier period with different environmental conditions. Peninsular India was covered by wet forests and has gradually become more arid since at least the Miocene (Morley 2007; Patnaik et al. 2012; Pound et al. 2012). This is apt for the new species as it is known only from small areas of relatively cool, closed canopy habitats in a matrix of otherwise warm and open habitats.HereHere
56GekkonidaeHemidactylus paucifasciatusFew banded rock geckoMOHAPATRA, AGARWAL, MOHALIK, DUTTA & KHANDEKAR2023ZootaxaGadachandi Temple, AnandapurOdishaIndiaThe species epithet is derived from a combination of the Latin adjectives pauci (English: few) and fasciatus (English: banded), referring to the lesser number of dorsal bands in this species.HereHere
57ColubridaeSahyadriophis uttarghatiPATEL, THACKERAY, CAMPBELL & MIRZA2023TaxonomyAmboliMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is a combination of two Sanskrit words: ‘uttara’ for north and ‘ghati’ meaning dweller of the mountains/Ghats. The combination refers to the northern distribution of the new species.HereHere
58GekkonidaeCnemaspis pakkamalaiensisPakkamalai dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, KALAIMANI & AGARWAL2023Vertebrate ZoologyPakkamalai Reserve Forest, Gingee HillsTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Pakkamalai, Gingee Hills in Viluppuram district of Tamil Nadu state, the type and only known locality for this species.HereHere
59GekkonidaeCnemaspis cavernicolaCave-dwelling dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, KALAIMANI & AGARWAL2023Vertebrate ZoologyPakkamalai Reserve Forest, Gingee HillsTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is an adjective formed from the Latin “caverna’ for cave and “cola” meaning inhabitant or dweller, as the species is only known to occur in caves and crevices below large granite boulders.HereHere
61ScincidaeDravidoseps gingeeensisGingee leaf-litter skinkAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2024Vertebrate ZoologyPakkamalai Reserve Forest, Gingee HillsTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Gingee Hills in Villupuram District of Tamil Nadu State, the type locality of the new species.HereHere
62ScincidaeDravidoseps jawadhuensisJawadhu leaf-litter skinkAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2024Vertebrate Zoologynear Beeman falls, Jawadhu HillsTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Jawadhu Hills in Vellore District of Tamil Nadu State, the type and currently only known locality for the new species.HereHere
63ScincidaeDravidoseps kalakadensisKMTR leaf-litter skinkAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2024Vertebrate Zoologynear Wood House, Talayani road, Kalakadu Reserve Forest, Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger ReserveTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Kalakad in Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu State, the type locality of the new species.HereHere
64ScincidaeDravidoseps srivilliputhurensisSMTR leaf-litter skinkAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2024Vertebrate Zoologynear Ayyanar Kovil Falls, Srivilliputhur-Meghamalai Tiger ReserveTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Srivilliputhur in Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve (SMTR), Virudhunagar District of Tamil Nadu State, the type locality of the new species.HereHere
65ScincidaeDravidoseps tamilnaduensisTamilnadu leaf-litter skinkAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2024Vertebrate Zoologynear Kambur, Pachaimalai HillsTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Tamil Nadu State to which the new species is endemic.HereHere
66GekkonidaeCnemaspis barkiensisBarki dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, GAIKWAD, THACKERAY, GANGALMALE & AGARWAL2024ZootaxaBarki Reserve ForestMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Barki in Kolhapur District of Maharashtra, the type locality for this species.HereHere
67GekkonidaeCnemaspis chandoliensisChandoli dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, GAIKWAD, THACKERAY, GANGALMALE & AGARWAL2024ZootaxaChandel Range, Chandoli National Park in Sahyadri Tiger ReserveMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Chandoli National Park in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, Kolhapur District of Maharashtra, the type and only known locality for this species.HereHere
68GekkonidaeCnemaspis maharashtraensisMaharashtra dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, GAIKWAD, THACKERAY, GANGALMALE & AGARWAL2024ZootaxaRundiv Range, Chandoli National Park in Sahyadri Tiger ReserveMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Maharashtra State, India in which the type locality of the species is located.HereHere
69GekkonidaeCnemaspis sahyadriensisSahyadri dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, GAIKWAD, THACKERAY, GANGALMALE & AGARWAL2024Zootaxanear Tanali Vetti Range, Chandoli National Park in Sahyadri Tiger ReserveMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the type locality, located in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. Sahyadri is also the local name for the Western Ghats.HereHere
70GekkonidaeCnemaspis vangoghiVan Gogh's dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024Zoo Keysnear Katha Ayyanar Kovil, Srivilliputhur- Meghamalai Tiger ReserveTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a patronym for Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh (1853–1890). The colouration of the new species is reminiscent of one of Van Gogh’s most iconic paintings, The Starry Night. Suggested common name is Van Gogh’s starry dwarf gecko.HereHere
71GekkonidaeCnemaspis sathuragiriensisSathuragiri dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024Zoo Keysnear Sathuragiri entry point, SathyragiriTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the type locality of the new species, Sathuragiri mountain in Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve (SMTR), Virudhunagar District, Tamil Nadu. Suggested Common name is Sathuragiri dwarf gecko.HereHere
72GekkonidaeCnemaspis persephoneAnaimalai ground-dwelling dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024ZootaxaKarainshola,Anaimalai Tiger ReserveTamil NaduIndiaNamed for Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld and Goddess of spring in Ancient Greek mythology and religion, who spent half the year in the Underworld and the other half above ground. This is an allusion to the natural history of the new species, only found in the soil under rocks and logs or at the base of vegetation; though presumably emerging at night at least at some time of the year. The specific epithet is treated as a noun in apposition.HereHere
73GekkonidaeCnemaspis sanctusHoly dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024Zootaxanear Kaalimala Durgadevi Temple, PathukaniTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is the Latin noun sanctus, one who is holy or saintly, used in apposition (hence invariable) and alludes to the fact that the type locality has both a temple and a church close together.HereHere
74AgamidaeJapalura mictopholaMIRZA, GOWANDE, THACKERAY, BHOSALE, SAWANT, PHANSALAKAR, PATEL2024TaprobanicaBomdilaArunachal PradeshIndiaThe specific epithet is a combination of two words, the Greek word miktós ‘μικτός’ meaning mixed, and the word phola (=scales) referring to the mixed (heterogeneous) scales on the dorsum of the species.HereHere
75GekkonidaeCnemaspis kalasubaiensisKalasubai dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, AGARWAL, GANGALMALE, KININGE & GAIKWAD2024ZootaxaKalsubai MountainMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the type locality of the new species, Kalsubai in Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra, the highest peak of the State at 1646 m asl.HereHere
76GekkonidaeCnemaspis basalticolaBasaltic dwarf gecko or Ratangad dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, AGARWAL, GANGALMALE, KININGE & GAIKWAD2024ZootaxaRatangad fortMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is an adjective formed from the Latin “basaltes” for basalt and the suffix “-cola”, meaning inhabitant or dweller, as the species inhabits basalt rock formations.HereHere
77GekkonidaeCnemaspis agamalaiensisAgamalai dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024ZootaxaAgamalai HillsTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Agamalai Hills in Theni District of Tamil Nadu, the type and only known locality for this species.HereHere
78GekkonidaeCnemaspis anaimalaiensisAnaimalai rock-dwelling dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024Zootaxanear Kamatchi Amman Temple, on Pollachi to Valparai Road, Anaimalai Tiger ReserveTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Anaimalai Hills, the mountainous landscape that contains the type locality of the new species.HereHere
79GekkonidaeCnemaspis anuradhaeAnuradha's dwarf gecko or Dindigul dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024Zootaxanear Sri Lakshmi Estate, Mangalamkombu in Palani HillsTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a latinized eponym, honouring Anuradha Batabyal for her contributions to studies of behavioural ecology, colour physiology and cognition in Indian lizards, and for constant support and encouragement to the first author (AK).HereHere
80GekkonidaeCnemaspis valparaiensisValparai dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024Zootaxanear Kamatchi Amman Temple, on Pollachi to Valparai Road, Anaimalai Tiger ReserveTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Valparai Plateau in Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu, which includes the type and only known locality for this species.HereHere
81GekkonidaeCnemaspis tenkasiensisTenkasi dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024Zootaxanear Ayanadu Estate, MekkaraiTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Tenkasi District of Tamil Nadu, in which the type locality (Ayanadu Estate) of the new species is located.HereHere
83GekkonidaeCnemaspis kanyakumariensisKanyakumari dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2024Journal of Natural HistoryKadukkaraiTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu State, to which the new species is endemicHereHere
84GekkonidaeCnemaspis geethaiyeraeGeetha Iyer's dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2024Journal of Natural Historynear AralvaimozhiTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a latinised eponym honouring Dr Geetha Iyer, entomologist and former biology teacher at Rishi Valley School, Andhra Pradesh, India, for her contributions as a teacher – instrumental in helping many children develop and sustain an interest in nature (including IA in particular), and for her help with our survey work in Kanyakumari District.HereHere
85AgamidaeCalotes sinyikSinyik or Subansiri dragon lizardPATEL, THACKERAY, SHETH, KHANDEKAR & AGARWAL2024Zootaxafrom near Lingbuk Riamukh (28.26210°N, 94.15900°E; ca. 1270 m asl.)Arunachal PradeshIndiaThe specific epithet is the local name of the Subansiri River in the Tagin language, used as a noun in apposition. The Tagin are one of the major tribes of Arunachal Pradesh and mainly inhabit Upper Subansiri District. Suggested common name is Sinyik or Subansiri dragon lizard. Agamids are commonly referred to as /sopin/ in Tagin.HereHere
86LacertidaeOphisops venustusPATEL, VYAS, THACKERAY, PAL & MIRZA2024Taprobanicaforest patch near DhuldaGujaratIndiaThe specific epithet ‘venustus’ is a Latin first/second-declension adjective in the nominative singular given in masculine, which means ‘charming / elegant / beautiful’ refers to its elegant body colouration in life. Suggested English name is charming lacerta or charming snake-eye.HereHere
89GekkonidaeCyrtodactylus chitwanensisChitwan bent-toed gecko.BHATTARAI, GAUTAM, NEUPANE, KHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, AGARWAL, TILLACK, OLSON, HOGAN & WRIGHT2025ZootaxaBandipurNepalNepalThe specific epithet is a toponym for the distributional range of the new species, which includes localities in Chitwan District and the Barandabhar Corridor Forest, a part of the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape connecting to Chitwan National Park (CNP) in the south. CNP is the first protected area in Nepal and one of the major strongholds of the greater one-horned rhinoceros and gharial.HereHere
90GekkonidaeCyrtodactylus annapurnaensisACAP bent-toed geckoBHATTARAI, GAUTAM, NEUPANE, KHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, AGARWAL, TILLACK, OLSON, HOGAN & WRIGHT2025ZootaxaLwangNepalNepalThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Annapurna Range and the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), within which the type locality fallsHereHere
91GekkonidaeCyrtodactylus karanshahiKaran’s bent-toed geckoBHATTARAI, GAUTAM, NEUPANE, KHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, AGARWAL, TILLACK, OLSON, HOGAN & WRIGHT2025ZootaxaPhilim to ChisapaniNepalNepalThe specific epithet is a patronym in honor of Prof Karan Bahadur Shah (b. 1954), for his remarkable contributions to the ecology, taxonomy and socioeconomics of the vertebrate fauna and in particular the herpetofauna of his home country, Nepal, in a career spanning over 40 years. He also led the feasibility study of the area for the formal establishment of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP).HereHere
92GekkonidaeCyrtodactylus makwanpurgadhiensisMakwanpurgadhi bent toed geckoBHATTARAI, GAUTAM, NEUPANE, KHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, AGARWAL, TILLACK, OLSON, HOGAN & WRIGHT2025ZookeysMakwanpurgadhi Fort (27°24.799'N, 85°8.690'E)NepalNepalThe specific epithet is a toponym for Makwanpurgadhi (Gadhi = Fort), which is ~17 km north-east of Hetauda town, Makwanpur District in Bagmati Province.HereHere
93GekkonidaeCyrtodactylus chureChure bent toed geckoBHATTARAI, GAUTAM, NEUPANE, KHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, AGARWAL, TILLACK, OLSON, HOGAN & WRIGHT2025ZookeysHariharpurgadhi Fort (27°18.820'N, 85°29.223'E)NepalNepalThe specific epithet, Chure (ch-oo-ray), is the Nepali word for the Siwalik Mountain range, within which the type locality lies, and is used as a noun in apposition.HereHere
104GekkonidaeHemidactylus aravalliensisAravalli leaf-toed geckoPATEL, THACKERAY, VYAS & MIRZA2026ZootaxaVijayasar Mataji Temple, Dantiwada (24.34795°N 72.34350°E)GujaratIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Aravalli Hill ranges from where the new species was collected.HereHere
106GekkonidaeCyrtodactylus teraiensisTerai clouded GeckoellaGAUTAM, BHATTARAI, NEUPANE, POKHERAL, THACKERAY, KHANDEKAR, CYRIAC, AGARWAL2026ZookeysBelbari Chisang Collaborative Forest (26.67993°N, 87.4743°E),BhaunneNepalNepalThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Terai, a unique lowland habitat in southern Nepal and north India, bordered by the Siwalik Range in the north and the Indo-Gangetic Plains to the southHereHere

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