New Lizard Species in Western Ghats
Context:
A new species of tiny lizards, referred to as the “diminutive dragon” or Agasthyagama edge, has been discovered in the biodiverse forests of the Western Ghats.
- Researchers describe it as a unique member of the Agamidae family with a maximum snout-vent length of 4.3 cm.
Relevance:
GS-03 (New species)
Key Highlights:
Terrestrial Behavior and Habitat:
- The Agasthyagama edge, or northern kangaroo lizard, has a reduced fifth toe, making it a poor climber, and it tends to be terrestrial rather than climbing trees.
- The lizards are primarily found in areas with dense leaf litter cover, exhibiting behaviors such as running fast and hiding within dry leaves to evade predators.
Discovery and Naming:
- The species was first sighted in 2015 during an expedition in search of the Mahabali frog in Kerala’s Idukki.
- Initially assumed to be A. beddomii, further evidence suggested it could be a new species, confirmed through consistent morphological and genetic differences.
- Named after the Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) program, it is called Agasthyagama edge.
Geographical Separation:
- The newly discovered species stands out from its closely related counterpart, Agasthyagama beddomii, due to a unique combination of scale characteristics and notable genetic distinctions.
- The genetic differentiation is evident through an 11% uncorrected pairwise difference in the ND2 gene and a 3% difference in the 16S gene.
- The new lizard species has been found to be geographically separated, with the closest distributional records being approximately 80 km apart.
Distinctive Features:
- The lizard has a uniform dull olive-brown body with a slightly darker head, a white throat, and a broad dark brown stripe on its dewlap, with brick yellow scales on the outside.
Scientific Journal Publication:
- The findings have been reported in Vertebrate Zoology, a scientific journal published by the Senckenberg Museum in Germany.
Research Team and EDGE Program:
- The research team includes scientists from various institutions in India and abroad, led by Sandeep Das, a Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) national post-doctoral fellow at Calicut University.
- Named after the EDGE program, the discovery was supported by the Zoological Society of London.
Source: TH
