What is Hemidactylus quartziticolus?

About Hemidactylus quartziticolus:

• The common name suggested by the authors for the new gecko is Quartzite brookish gecko or Thoothukudi brookish gecko.
• It is the 53rd species of Hemidactylus found in India and the seventh that is endemic to Tamil Nadu.
• It has been named Hemidactylus quartziticolus because it was found over the quartz rocks.
• It is unique in various aspects, including dorsal scalation, the number and arrangement of precloacal-femoral pores, the number of dorsal tubercle rows at midbody, the number of lamellae under digit I and IV of manus and pes.
• It has the most densely packed tubercles among Indian Hemidactylus, almost resembling the most tuberculate Indian Cyrtopodian.
• Three morphological characteristics of Hemidactylus quartziticolus that make it distinct are its enlarged tubercles, continuous series of 34-38 precloacal-female pores and the few lamellae (four) under digit I of manus and pes.

What is a Gecko?

• Geckos are small, nocturnal lizards found in all the warm parts of the world.
• There are approximately 1,500 gecko species, and they vary in size.
• Geckos are found on every continent except Antarctica and live in almost every habitat, including rainforests, deserts and mountains.
• They also possess a short, stout body, a large head, and typically well-developed limbs.

Q1) What is a Gecko?

Geckos are small, nocturnal lizards found in all the warm parts of the world.There are approximately 1,500 gecko species, and they vary in size. Geckos are found on every continent except Antarctica and live in almost every habitat, including rainforests, deserts and mountains.

Source: Brookish’ gecko species discovered in Thoothukudi

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