A new species of gecko inhabiting the shrinking forests of Sri Lanka has been described in a paper published in
Zootaxa. Sri Lanka is home to 24 known species in the genus
Cnemaspis, all of which are endemic to the island. Sri Lanka is rich in biodiversity, but it's unique forest habitats are rapidly shrinking. The island has a wide array micro-habitats due to geological complexity, climatic variation, and altitude.
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| credit: M. Botejue |
The Nilgala day gecko (
Cnemaspis nilgala) is named after the forest in which it is found amid rock outcrops and granite caves. Scientists determined the gecko is genetically distinct from Alwis’s day gecko (
C. alwisi), for which it was confused. The small, spotted lizard is slender with prominent forward facing eyes. Sri Lanka's geckos are active in the day time, unlike geckos elsewhere. Nigala forest is dry savanna type spanning just over 30,000 acres. The gecko was found in caves used by prehistoric humans and rocky outcrops, but is thought to range throughout the forest. These small habitats have been heavily impacted by mans's slash and burn agricultural and granite quarrying. About seventy reptile species have been located in this particular forest, home to 17 species of geckos alone, one critically endangered and three endangered. Scientists say the region in Uva province deserves conservation as a biological diversity hot spot. Although the genus
Cnemaspis has recently received attention from biologists, the location of Nilgala day gecko as a separate species indicates the need for more field survey and ecological research to understand conservation needs.
