List Of New Species

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

Sr. No.TaxaFamilyScientific NameCommon NameAuthorityYearJournalDistrictStateCountryEtymologyDOI NumberPosters
1LizardGekkonidaeHemiphyllodactylus nilgiriensisNilgiris slender geckoAGARWAL, BAUER, PAL, SRIKANTHAN & KHANDEKAR2020ZootaxaThe NilgirisTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Nilgiri mountain range or Nilgiris, to which the new species is restrictedHereN.A TWF-001.webp
2LizardGekkonidaeHemiphyllodactylus peninsularisKMTR slender geckoAGARWAL, BAUER, PAL, SRIKANTHAN & KHANDEKAR2020ZootaxaTirunelveliTamil 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.HereN.A TWF-001.webp
3LizardGekkonidaeCyrtodactylus urbanusUrban bent-toed geckoPURKAYASTHA, DAS, BOHIRA, BAUER & AGARWAL2020ZootaxaKamrup metropolitanAssamIndiaThe 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
4LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis bangaraGolden striped dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY, PAL, & KHANDEKAR2020Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary ResearchKolarKarnatakaIndiaThe 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
5LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis graniticolaGranite dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY, PAL, & KHANDEKAR2020Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary ResearchChittoorAndhra PradeshIndiaThe species is named for the granite rock formations to which it appears restrictedHereHere
6LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis yelagiriensisYelagiri dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY, PAL, & KHANDEKAR2020Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary ResearchVelloreTamil 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
7LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis magnificaMagnificent dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, PAL, & AGARWAL2020ZootaxaHassanKarnatakaIndiaThe epithet is derived from the Latin magnifico (=magnificent) and is given to this striking species for its large size and conspicuous colour pattern.HereHere
8LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis avasabinaeNellore dwarf geckoAGARWAL, BAUER & KHANDEKAR2020ZootaxaNelloreAndhra PradeshIndiaThe specific epithet “avasabinae” honors Ava Sabin of the Sabin family, philanthropic supporters of herpetofaunal conservation.HereN.A TWF-005.webp
9LizardGekkonidaeHemidactylus rishivalleyensisRishi Valley brookiish geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2020ZootaxaChittoorAndhra PradeshIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Rishi Valley, the type and only known locality for the new species.HereHere
10LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis rishivalleyensisRishi Valley dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2020ZootaxaChittoorAndhra PradeshIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Rishi Valley, the type and only known locality for the new species.HereHere
11LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis stellapulvisStardust dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2020ZootaxaMandyaKarnatakaIndiaThe 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
12LizardGekkonidaeHemidactylus sirumalaiensisSirumalai rock geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, PAWAR, & AGARWAL2020ZootaxaDindigulTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the type locality of the species.HereHere
13LizardGekkonidaeHemiphyllodactylus minimusGanjam rock geckoMOHAPATRA, KHANDEKAR, DUTTA, MAHAPATRA, & AGARWAL2020ZootaxaGanjamOdishaIndiaThe specific epithet is the Latin word for smallest as this is the smallest known species of the genus Hemiphyllodactylus.HereN.A TWF-009.webp
14FishNemacheilidaeSchistura hiranyakeshihiranyakeshi loachPRAVEENRAJ, THACKERAY & BALASUBRAMANIAN2020aqua, International Journal of IchthyologySindhudurgMaharashtraIndiaThe species is named after the Hiranyakeshi River in Sindhudurg District of Maharashtra. The epithet “hiranyakeshi” in Sanskrit means ‘golden hair’, also alludes to the golden-yellow coloration and stripes on the body of adult specimensN.AHere
15LizardGekkonidaeHemidactylus hannahsabinaeCERIACO, AGARWAL, MARQUES & BAUER2020ZootaxaBié ProvinceAngolaThe specific epithet hannahsabinae honors Hannah Sabin of the Sabin family, philanthropic supporters of herpetofaunal conservationHereN.A TWF-011.webp
16LizardGekkonidaeHemidactylus vernayiCERIACO, AGARWAL, MARQUES & BAUER2020ZootaxaBenguela ProvinceAngolaThe 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”.HereN.A TWF-011.webp
17LizardGekkonidaeHemidactylus xericolusNalgonda yellow- tailed brookish geckoLAJMI, GIRI, SINGH & AGARWAL2020ZootaxaNalgondaTelanganaIndiaThe 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
18LizardGekkonidaeHemidactylus flavicaudusMahabubnagar yellow- tailed brookish geckoLAJMI, GIRI, SINGH & AGARWAL2020ZootaxaMahabubnagarTelanganaIndiaThe specific epithet is an adjective derived from the Latin flavus (= yellow) and cauda (= tail), for the yellow tail of the new species.HereHere
19FishChannidaeChanna aristoniePRAVEENRAJ, THACKERAY, SINGH, UMA, MOULITHARAN & MUKHIM2020CopeiaMeghalayaIndiaThis species is named after Aristone M. Ryndongsngi from Meghalaya, in recognition of his discovery of this new species and assistance to the authors during the field work.HereHere
20LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis schalleriSchaller's Sakleshpur dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2021ZootaxaHassanKarnatakaIndiaThe 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
21LizardGekkonidaeHemidactylus gramineusCERIACO, BAUER, KUSAMBA, AGARWAL & GREENBAUM2021Journal of HerpetologyBombo-Lumene ReserveKinshasa 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.’HereN.A TWF-016.webp
22LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis krishnagiriensisKrishnagiri dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2021ZootaxaKrishnagiriTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Krishnagiri in Krishnagiri District of Tamil Nadu, the type and only known locality for this species.HereHere
23LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis uttaraghatiHarishchandragad dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2021ZootaxaAhmednagarMaharashtraIndiaThe 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
24SnailAriophantidaeVaradia amboliensisBHOSALE, THACKERAY, MULEY & RAHEEM2021European Journal of TaxonomySindhudurgMaharashtraIndiaNamed after the type locality, Amboli, in the Sindhudurg District of southern Maharashtra, India. In recent years, Amboli has emerged as a hotspot for the discovery of new species (particularly reptiles and amphibians) in the northern Western Ghats.HereHere
25SnailStreptaxidaePerrottetia rajeshgopaliBHOSALE, THACKERAY & ROWSON2021Archiv fur MolluskenkundeKolhapurMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is an eponym honouring Dr Rajesh Gopal, currently the secretary General of the Global Tiger Forum. Dr Gopal is recognised for his remarkable work on the tigers of India during his tenure in the Indian Forest Service. His work has facilitated a better understanding of the mysterious lives of the big cats, helped to formulate better conservation action plans, and also proved to be instrumental in mitigating human-animal conflict to a great extent.HereHere
26LizardGekkonidaeHemidactylus tamhiniensisTamhini giant rock gecko or basalt giant rock geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2021ZootaxaRaigadMaharashtraIndiaThe 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
27LizardGekkonidaeHemiphyllodactylus goaensisGoan slender geckoKHANDEKAR, PARMAR, SAWANT & AGARWAL2021ZootaxaNorth GoaGoaIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Goa state, to which the new species is currently restricted to.HereHere
28FishSynbranchidae)Rakthamichthys mumbaPRAVEENRAJ, THACKERAY, MOHAPATRA & PAVAN-KUMAR2021aqua, International Journal of IchthyologyMaharashtraIndiaThe species name mumba refers to the type locality, the city of Mumbai. The word ‘mumba’ originated from Marathi, an official language spoken by the inhabitants of Maharashtra,which honours the ‘Maha Amba’ or ‘Mumba Aai’, the patron goddess worshipped by the inhabitants of this city. It is used as a noun in apposition.N.AHere
29CrabGecarcinucidaeGhatiana durrelliPATI & THACKERAY2021ZoosystemaSataraMaharashtraIndiaThe species name honours British naturalist, Gerald Malcolm Durrell for his in situ and ex situ conservation efforts. The specific epithet is thus conceived as a noun in the genitive singular.HereHere
30CrabGecarcinucidaeGhatiana rouxiPATI & THACKERAY2021ZoosystemaUttara KannadaKarnatakaIndiaThe species is named after the Swiss zoologist, Dr Jean Roux for his contributions on the study of crabs of the Western Ghats. The species name is conceived as a noun in the genitive singular.HereHere
31CrabGecarcinucidaeSahyadriana inopinataPATI & THACKERAY2021ZoosystemaSataraMaharashtraIndiaThe species name is an adjective in the Latin nominative singular meaning unexpected, referring to the unexpected discovery of the species from the type locality of a congener, i.e., S. triangulus (Pati & Sharma, 2014).HereHere
32CrabGecarcinucidaeSahyadriana keshariPATI & THACKERAY2021ZoosystemaNashikMaharashtraIndiaThe species name, derived from the Marathi language for orange coloured, refers to live colouration of the crab. The name is used as a Latin noun in apposition.HereHere
33CrabGecarcinucidaeSahyadriana tamhiniPATI & THACKERAY2021ZoosystemaPuneMaharashtraIndiaThe species is named after the type locality, Tamhini Ghat, a hotspot for wildlife in Maharashtra that hosts rich biodiversity and many endemic species, including that of the freshwater crabs. The species name is used as a Latin noun in apposition.HereHere
34ScorpionButhidaeCompsobuthus satpuraensisSatpura ground scorpionWAGHE, GANGALMALE & KHANDEKAR2022EuscorpiusJalgaonMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Satpura Hills; the species is currently only known from the foothills of this hill range in Jalgaon District of Maharashtra.HereHere
35LizardGekkonidaeCyrtodactylus kamengensisMIRZA, BHOSALE, THACKERAY, PHANSALKAR, SAWANT, GOWANDE & PATEL2022HerpetozoaWest KamengArunachal PradeshIndiaThe specific epithet refers to the Kameng River in western Arunachal Pradesh close to which the new species was discovered.HereHere
36LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis tigrisTiger-striped dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2022Vertebrate ZoologyChickballapurKarnatakaIndiaThe 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
37LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis sakleshpurensisSakleshpur dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2022Vertebrate ZoologyHassanKarnatakaIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Sakleshpur in Hassan district of Karnataka, the place where the species is currently known from.HereHere
38LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis vijayaeVijaya's Coorg dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2022Vertebrate ZoologyKodaguKarnatakaIndiaThe 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
39SpiderHalonoproctidaeConothele ogaleiOgale's Amboli trapdoor spiderSANAP, PAWAR, JOGLEKAR & KHANDEKAR2022Arthropoda SelectaSindhudurgMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is a patronym honoring our friend Mr. Hemant Ogale, an eminent naturalist who also runs a resort in Amboli from where the type series were collected. He has been documenting biodiversity around Amboli and working toward the conservation of the landscape for two decades.HereHere
40SnailStreptaxidaeHaploptychius sahyadriensisBHOSALE, THACKERAY & YADAV2022Molluscan ResearchKolhapurMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym referring to the type locality of the species in the Northern part of the Western Ghats (Sahyadri in Sanskrit) mountain range.HereHere
41LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis azhaguThirukurungudi dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2022Vertebrate ZoologyTirunelveliTamil 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
42LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis mundanthuraiensisMundanthurai dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2022Vertebrate ZoologyTirunelveliTamil 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
43LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis kalakadensisKalakad dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2022Vertebrate ZoologyTirunelveliTamil 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
44ScorpionHormuridaeChiromachetes agasthyamalaiensisAgasthyamalai rock scorpionKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, PAWAR, GANGALMALE & WAGHE2022EuscorpiusTirunelveliTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Agasthyamalai Mountains in Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu, the type and currently the only known locality for this species.HereHere
45CrabGecarcinucidaeGhatiana dvivarnaPATI, THACKERAY, BAJANTRI, HEGDE2022NaupliusUttara KannadaKarnatakaIndiaThe specific epithet, dvivarna, is derived from the Sanskrit for ‘bicolor’, referring to the crab’s colour in life, which mainly consists of two colours (white and red-violet). The name is conceived here as a noun in apposition.HereHere
46LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis salimaliiSalim Ali's dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2022Vertebrate ZoologyNamakkalTamil 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
47LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis agayagangaiAgayagangai dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2022Vertebrate ZoologyNamakkalTamil 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
48LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis fantasticaFantastic dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2022Vertebrate ZoologyNamakkalTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is derived from the Greek phantastikós, alluding to the spectacular colouration of the new species.HereHere
49LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis pachaimalaiensisPachaimalai dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2022Vertebrate ZoologyTrichyTamil 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
50LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis rudhiraScarlet dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2022Vertebrate ZoologySalemTamil 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
51LizardGekkonidaeCyrtopodion vindhya-PATEL, THACKERAY, MIRZA, VYAS2023ZootaxaDahodGujaratIndiaThe specific epithet is a noun in apposition for the Vindhya hill ranges from where the new species was collected.HereHere
52LizardGekkonidaeCyrtodactylus chengodumalaensisChengodumala geckoellaAGARWAL, UMESH, DAS, BAUER & KHANDEKAR2023Journal of HerpetologyMalappuramTamil 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
53LizardGekkonidaeHemidactylus quartziticolusQuartzite /Thoothukudi brookiish geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, MARIAPPAN, GANGALMALE, WAGHE, PAWAR & AGARWAL2023Vertebrate ZoologyThoothukudiTamil 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
54LizardGekkonidaeCyrtodactylus irulaorumIrula geckoellaAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2023Vertebrate ZoologyKancheepuramTamil 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
55LizardGekkonidaeCyrtodactylus relictusRelict geckoellaAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2023Vertebrate ZoologyTirupatiAndhra 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
56LizardGekkonidaeHemidactylus paucifasciatusFew banded rock geckoMOHAPATRA, AGARWAL, MOHALIK, DUTTA & KHANDEKAR2023ZootaxaKeonjharOdishaIndiaThe 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
57SnakeColubridaeSahyadriophis uttarghatiPATEL, THACKERAY, CAMPBELL & MIRZA2023TaxonomySindhudurgMaharashtraIndiaThe 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
58LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis pakkamalaiensisPakkamalai dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, KALAIMANI & AGARWAL2023Vertebrate ZoologyVillipuramTamil 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
59LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis cavernicolaCave-dwelling dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, KALAIMANI & AGARWAL2023Vertebrate ZoologyVillipuramTamil 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
60CrabGecarcinucidaeGhatiana sanguinolentaPATI, THACKERAY & PAWAR2023ZootaxaSirsiKarnatakaIndiaThe specific epithet, ‘sanguinolenta’ meaning blood-red, is a Latin adjective in the nominative singular, which alludes to the crab's colour in life.HereHere
61LizardScincidaeDravidoseps gingeeensisGingee leaf-litter skinkAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2024Vertebrate ZoologyVillipuramTamil 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
62LizardScincidaeDravidoseps jawadhuensisJawadhu leaf-litter skinkAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2024Vertebrate ZoologyVelloreTamil 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
63LizardScincidaeDravidoseps kalakadensisKMTR leaf-litter skinkAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2024Vertebrate ZoologyThirunelveliTamil 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
64LizardScincidaeDravidoseps srivilliputhurensisSMTR leaf-litter skinkAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2024Vertebrate ZoologyVirudhunagarTamil 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
65LizardScincidaeDravidoseps tamilnaduensisTamilnadu leaf-litter skinkAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2024Vertebrate ZoologyTiruchirappalliTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Tamil Nadu State to which the new species is endemic.HereHere
66LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis barkiensisBarki dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, GAIKWAD, THACKERAY, GANGALMALE & AGARWAL2024ZootaxaKolhapurMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Barki in Kolhapur District of Maharashtra, the type locality for this species.HereHere
67LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis chandoliensisChandoli dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, GAIKWAD, THACKERAY, GANGALMALE & AGARWAL2024ZootaxaKolhapurMaharashtraIndiaThe 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
68LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis maharashtraensisMaharashtra dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, GAIKWAD, THACKERAY, GANGALMALE & AGARWAL2024ZootaxaSangliMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Maharashtra State, India in which the type locality of the species is located.HereHere
69LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis sahyadriensisSahyadri dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, GAIKWAD, THACKERAY, GANGALMALE & AGARWAL2024ZootaxaSangliMaharashtraIndiaThe 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
70LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis vangoghiVan Gogh's dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024Zoo KeysVirudhunagarTamil 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
71LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis sathuragiriensisSathuragiri dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024Zoo KeysVirudhunagarTamil 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
72LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis persephoneAnaimalai ground-dwelling dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024ZootaxaCoimbatoreTamil 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
73LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis sanctusHoly dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024ZootaxaKanyakumariTamil 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
74LizardAgamidaeJapalura mictopholaMIRZA, GOWANDE, THACKERAY, BHOSALE, SAWANT, PHANSALAKAR, PATEL2024TaprobanicaWest KamengArunachal 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
75LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis kalasubaiensisKalasubai dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, AGARWAL, GANGALMALE, KININGE & GAIKWAD2024ZootaxaAhemdnagarMaharashtraIndiaThe 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
76LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis basalticolaBasaltic dwarf gecko or Ratangad dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, AGARWAL, GANGALMALE, KININGE & GAIKWAD2024ZootaxaAhemdnagarMaharashtraIndiaThe 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
77LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis agamalaiensisAgamalai dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024ZootaxaTheniTamil 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
78LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis anaimalaiensisAnaimalai rock-dwelling dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024ZootaxaCoimbatoreTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Anaimalai Hills, the mountainous landscape that contains the type locality of the new species.HereHere
79LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis anuradhaeAnuradha's dwarf gecko or Dindigul dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024ZootaxaDindigulTamil 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
80LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis valparaiensisValparai dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024ZootaxaCoimbatoreTamil 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
81LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis tenkasiensisTenkasi dwarf geckoKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY & AGARWAL2024ZootaxaTenkasiTamil 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
82FrogDicroglossidaePhrynoderma konkaniKonkan pond frogYADAV, BHOSALE, KOLI, GOPALAN, KADAM, KHANDEKAR & DINESH2024Journal of Asia-Pacific BiodiversitySindhudurgMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the “Konkan” a name given to the coastal region in which new species is found, ‘Konkani’ is derived from the Marathi language. The species epithet is treated as a noun in opposition to the genus name.HereHere
83LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis kanyakumariensisKanyakumari dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2024Journal of Natural HistoryKanyakumariTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu State, to which the new species is endemicHereHere
84LizardGekkonidaeCnemaspis geethaiyeraeGeetha Iyer's dwarf geckoAGARWAL, THACKERAY & KHANDEKAR2024Journal of Natural HistoryKanyakumariTamil 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
85SnakeColubridaeSmithophis mizoramensisMizo Brook SnakeMIRZA, BHARDWAJ, LALMUANAWMA,CHOURE, LALREMSANGA, VABEIRYUREILAI, CAPTAIN, ZAGADE & PATEL2024diversitySaitualMizoromIndiaThe specific epithet refers to the Indian state of Mizoram, where the new species was discovered, and that has yielded many notable herpetological discoveries.HereHere
86SnakeColubridaeAhaetulla longirostrisMIRZA, PATTEKAR, VERMA, STUART, PURKAYASTHA, MOHAPATRA & PATEL2024Journal of Asia-Pacific BiodiversityBettiahBiharIndiaThe specific epithet is taken from longus (L.) for long and rostrum (L.) for snout in reference to the very long rostral appendage.HereHere
87LizardAgamidaeCalotes sinyikSinyik or Subansiri dragon lizardPATEL, THACKERAY, SHETH, KHANDEKAR & AGARWAL2024ZootaxaUpper SubansiriArunachal 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
88SnakeColubridaeAnguiculus dicaprioiDiCaprio’s Himalayan snake’.MIRZA, BHARDWAJ, PAL, LALREMSANGA, VOGEL, CAMPBELL & PATEL2024Scientific reportsChamba DistrictHimachal PradeshIndiaThe specific epithet “dicaprioi” is a patronym honouring Leonardo DiCaprio, an American actor, film producer, and environmentalist who has been actively involved in creating awareness about global climate change, increased biodiversity loss, and human health issues through pollution. In addition to this, he has made funds available for field conservation activities and researchHereHere
89LizardLacertidaeOphisops venustusPATEL, VYAS, THACKERAY, PAL & MIRZA2024TaprobanicaDangGujaratIndiaThe 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
90PlantCelastraceaeEuonymus pushpagiriensisPAGE & THACKERAY2025PhytokeysKodaguKarnatakaIndiaThe specific epithet refers to the type locality of species – Pushpagiri which is the name of the second highest peak in Kodagu District and the fourth highest peak in the State of Karnataka and also the name of the Wildlife Sanctuary in which the peak the locatedHereHere
91FrogDicroglossidaeMinervarya ghatiborealisMahabaleshwar cricket frogYADAV, BHOSALE, PATIL, KHANDEKAR & DINESH2025ZootaxaSataraMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is used as a noun in apposition and is a combination of two words, ‘ghati’ derived from Sanskrit, which refers to ‘mountain pass’ and the word ‘borealis’, from Latin meaning ‘pertaining to the north.’HereHere
92LizardGekkonidaeCyrtodactylus chitwanensisChitwan bent-toed gecko.BHATTARAI, GAUTAM, NEUPANE, KHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, AGARWAL, TILLACK, OLSON, HOGAN & WRIGHT2025ZootaxaTanahunNepalNepalThe 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
93LizardGekkonidaeCyrtodactylus annapurnaensisACAP bent-toed geckoBHATTARAI, GAUTAM, NEUPANE, KHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, AGARWAL, TILLACK, OLSON, HOGAN & WRIGHT2025ZootaxaKaskiNepalNepalThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Annapurna Range and the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), within which the type locality fallsHereHere
94LizardGekkonidaeCyrtodactylus karanshahiKaran’s bent-toed geckoBHATTARAI, GAUTAM, NEUPANE, KHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, AGARWAL, TILLACK, OLSON, HOGAN & WRIGHT2025ZootaxaGorkhaNepalNepalThe 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
95LizardGekkonidaeCyrtodactylus makwanpurgadhiensisMakwanpurgadhi bent toed geckoBHATTARAI, GAUTAM, NEUPANE, KHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, AGARWAL, TILLACK, OLSON, HOGAN & WRIGHT2025ZookeysMakwanpurNepalNepalThe specific epithet is a toponym for Makwanpurgadhi (Gadhi = Fort), which is ~17 km north-east of Hetauda town, Makwanpur District in Bagmati Province.HereHere
96LizardGekkonidaeCyrtodactylus chureChure bent toed geckoBHATTARAI, GAUTAM, NEUPANE, KHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, AGARWAL, TILLACK, OLSON, HOGAN & WRIGHT2025ZookeysSindhuliNepalNepalThe 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
97SnailCyclophoridaeTheobaldius? konkanensisBHOSALE, THACKERAY, YADAV, KHANDEKAR, WHITE & RAHEEM2025Molluscan ResearchRatnagiriMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym referring to South India’s Konkan region (coastal regions of the states of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka), where the species is distributed.HereHere
98FishChannidaeChanna nachiFarham’s snakeheadPRAVEENRAJ, MOULITHARAN, PAVAN-KUMAR, NAVEEN THACKERAY, RAMESHORI & GURUMAYUM2025ZootaxaSouth Garo hillsMeghalayaIndiaThe specific epithet nachi is the local vernacular name for the species in Garo language spoken by the Garo tribes of Meghalaya. It is used as a noun in appositionHereHere
99SnailCyclophoridaeDicharax devraivasiDevrai micro-snailBHOSALE, THACKERAY, YADAV & KHANDEKAR2025Journal of ConchologyKolhapurMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is used as a noun in apposition. It is derived from the Marathi word “devrai”, meaning “sacred grove”, and Sanskrit word “vasi”, meaning “inhabitant of ”, as the new species has so far only been reported from multiple sacred grove forests in Kolhapur District, northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra.HereHere
100PlantMelastomataceaeMemecylon coorgensis-SHROTRI, THACKERAY & PAGE2025Edinburgh Journal of BotanyKodaguKarnatakaIndiaThe specific epithet refers to the Coorg (Kodagu) district of the state of Karnataka, where the species is described from and hitherto geographically restricted toHereHere
101SpiderIdiopidaeHeligmomerus australisKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, PAWAR, WAGHE & GANGALMALE2025TaprobanicaTirunelveliTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a noun in apposition and comes from the Latin austra for south, referring to the type locality of the new species, which is currently the southernmost known locality for the genus Heligmomerus on the Indian peninsula.HereHere
102SnailCyclophoridae)Lagocheilus hayaomiyazakiiTilari hairy snailBHOSALE, THACKERAY, RAHEEM, PAWAR & KHANDEKAR2025Journal of ConchologyKolhapurMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is a Latinised patronym honouring Hayao Miyazaki (b. 1941), a renowned Japanese animator, filmmaker, and co-founder of Studio Ghibli; the new species is named after him in recognition of his contribution to animation films.HereHere
103PlantGesneriaceaeHenckelia multifloraKISHWAN, THACKERAY & PAGE2025Edinburgh Journal of BotanySiang DistrictArunachal PradeshIndiaThe specific epithet refers to its many-flowered inflorescence, which is one of the diagnostic features of this speciesHereHere
104FishChannidaeChanna bhoiPRAVEENRAJ, MOULITHARAN, RYNDONGSNGI, THACKERAY, NAVEEN & KUMAR2025Ichthyology & HerpetologyRi-Bhoi districtMeghalayaIndiaThe specific epithet bhoi is named after the Bhois people, who are the indigenous sub-group of the main Khasi Tribe of Meghalaya, and inhabitants of the Ri-Bhoi district where the new species was collected. It is used as a noun in apposition.HereHere
105PlantElaeocarpaceaeElaeocarpus pulneyensisGOLE, PAGE & SARADESAI2026Edinburgh Journal of BotanyDindigul districtTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet pulneyensis is derived from the type locality, Pulney Hills, situated in peninsular India.HereHere
106SpiderIdiopidaeTitanidiops kolhapurensisKolhapur trapdoor spiderGANGALMALE, THACKERAY, KHANDEKAR & GAIKWAD2026Journal of Natural HistoryKolhapurMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym referring to Kolhapur City in Western Maharashtra, from the outskirts of which the type series of the new species was collected.HereHere
107LizardGekkonidaeHemidactylus aravalliensisAravalli leaf-toed geckoPATEL, THACKERAY, VYAS & MIRZA2026ZootaxaBanaskanthaGujaratIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Aravalli Hill ranges from where the new species was collected.HereHere
108FishAmblycipitidaeAmblyceps vayavyVIJAYKRISHNAN, THACKERAY & SHIRKE2026ZootaxaSouth GoaGoaIndiaThe specific name vayavy (pronounced vah-yhav-yah) is derived from Konkani (the official language of the state of Goa), and Marathi (the official language of the state of Maharashtra), both meaning northwest, in reference to the type locality and the additional collection location in the northern part of the Western Ghats.HereHere
109LizardGekkonidaeCyrtodactylus teraiensisTerai clouded GeckoellaGAUTAM, BHATTARAI, NEUPANE, POKHERAL, THACKERAY, KHANDEKAR, CYRIAC, AGARWAL2026ZookeysMorangNepalNepalThe 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
110SpiderSalticidaeLangelurillus sahyadriSANAP, TRIPATHI, CALEB, KOLI, KOLI, INTODIA & THACKERAY2026ZootaxaSataraMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet ‘sahyadri’ is derived from the Sahyadri hill ranges of the Western Ghats, which include the type locality, and is treated as a noun in appositionHereHere
111SpiderSalticidaeLangelurillus udaipurensisSANAP, TRIPATHI, CALEB, KOLI, KOLI, INTODIA & THACKERAY2026ZootaxaRajasthanIndiaThe specific epithet udaipurensis is a noun in apposition and derived from “Udaipur,” the district from which the species was collected.HereHere
112PlantGesneriaceaeStauranthera aureoglossaKISHWAN, THACKERAY & PAGE2026Feddes RepertoriumUpper SubansiriArunachal PradeshIndiaThe specific epithet ‘aureoglossa’ refers to the conspicuous golden-yellow tongue-like appendage on the ventral lobe of the corolla.HereHere
113PlantGesneriaceaeHenckelia flavifloraKISHWAN, THACKERAY & PAGE2026TaiwaniaKamleArunachal PradeshIndiaThe species epithet flaviflora refers to the yellow-flowerHereHere
114PlantGesneriaceaeHenckelia siyomensisKISHWAN, THACKERAY & PAGE2026TaiwaniaShi-YomiArunachal PradeshIndiaThe species epithet refers to the Siyom river valley (Shi-Yomi District), from where the species is collectedHereHere
115SpiderTheraphosidaeSelenocosmia meghalayensisSANAP, KADAM, THACKERAY, RAJKUMAR & SATAM2026FaunitxysEast Khasi HillsMeghalayaIndiaThe specific epithet is a noun in apposition referring to Meghalaya, the Indian state from which the new species was collected.HereHere
116PlantAnnonaceaeMitrephora rashmiaePAGE, KISHWAN & THACKERAY2026Feddes RepertoriumUpper SubansiriArunachal PradeshIndiaThe species epithet “rashmiae” is a matronymic, honoring Rashmi Thackeray, mother of the third author. It is dedicated to her for nurturing the author's childhood curiosity for the natural world and fostering a lifelong passion in taxonomy, as well as for her support in the establishment and growth of the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation.HereHere
117LizardGekkonidaeCyrtodactylus (Geckoella) shenbagathoppuensisShenbagathoppu Geckoella.AGARWAL, THACKERAY, GANGALMALE, SATHEESHKUMAR & KHANDEKAR2026Vertebrate ZoologyVirudhunagarTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the type locality of the new species, Shenbagathoppu, in Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve, Virudhnagar District, Tamil Nadu. The Tamil name means Shenbaga = champaca [= Magnolia champaca (Linnaeus)] and Thoppu = groveHereHere
118LizardGekkonidaeCyrtodactylus (Geckoella) kalakadensisKalakad or KMTR GeckoellaAGARWAL, THACKERAY, GANGALMALE, PAL & KHANDEKAR2026Vertebrate ZoologyTirunelveliTamil NaduIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the type and other known localities of the new species, in Kalakad Forest Range, KMTR (Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve), Tirunelveli District, Tamil NaduHereHere
119LizardGekkonidaeCyrtodactylus (Geckoella) satpuraensisSatpura GeckoellaAGARWAL, THACKERAY, GANGALMALE & KHANDEKAR2026Vertebrate ZoologyGadchiroliMaharashtraIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym for the Satpura mountain range across which the new species is distributed.HereHere
120FishChaudhuriidaeGangaichthys indonepalicusIndonepalese blind earthworm eelKHANDEKAR, THACKERAY, HE, MOHAPATRA & AGARWAL2026ZookeysPashchim Champaran DistrictBiharIndiaThe specific epithet is a toponym formed from India and Nepal, reflecting the distribution of the species in the Indo-Nepal border regionHereHere

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