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 lizardsfound 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.
