Abour new Species:
- The first ever sighting of this gecko and the new species has been named as Hemidactyluspakkamalaiensis, after the hill where it was recorded.
- It belongs to the genus Hemidactylus and it is havinglarge-body size (101–109 mm).
- The new species is closely related to graniticolus from which it can be distinguished by its lower femoral pores count.
About Pakkamalai hills:
- It is located in Villupuram district of Tamilnadu near Gingee.
- It is a biodiversity-rich area and has large mammals including leopards and sloth bears.
- It is an ecologically important area in the Eastern Ghats.
Q1) What are the benefits of rich biodiversity?
Biodiversity supports human and societal needs, including food and nutrition security, energy, development of medicines and pharmaceuticals and freshwater, which together underpin good health.
Source: New species of gecko recorded in Pakkamalai Hills in Villupuram district
Last updated on Sep, 2026
→ UPSC 2027 Notification will be released on 13 January 2027 at upsconline.nic.in.
→ Asian Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October.
→ Check out the latest UPSC Syllabus here.
→ Download UPSC Model Answers for Mains 2026
→ UPSC Mains Question Paper 2026 is out now for Essay & GS Paper 1, 2, 3 & 4.
→ UPSC Calendar 2027 has been released.
→ Enroll in Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mains Test Series 2027 for structured answer writing practice, expert evaluation, and exam-oriented feedback.
→ Join Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mentorship Program 2027 for personalized guidance, strategy planning, and one-to-one support from experienced mentors.
→ Go through the UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers to enhance your preparation.
→ UPSC has released UPSC Toppers List 2025 with the Civil Services final result on its official website.
→ Also check Best UPSC Coaching in India
