Cnemaspis brahmaputra

A new species of diurnal gecko, named Cnemaspis brahmaputra, has been recorded from Assam. This unique discovery was made at the Dirgheswari Temple on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River, facing Guwahati.

Key Features of the New Species:

• Diurnal Nature: Unlike most geckos found in Northeast India, Cnemaspis brahmaputra is non-nocturnal, meaning it is active during the day.
• Taxonomic Group: It belongs to the Cnemaspis podihuna clade, a group of small, diurnal geckos that were previously thought to be largely restricted to Sri Lanka.
• Biogeographical Significance: Its discovery in Assam strengthens the evidence for an ancient biogeographic link between Sri Lanka and India’s northeast, suggesting historical faunal exchanges across the Indian subcontinent.
• Distinctiveness: The new species is genetically and morphologically distinct from its Sri Lankan relatives, indicating significant evolutionary divergence.
• Second Cnemaspis in Northeast: Cnemaspis brahmaputra is only the second species of the genus Cnemaspis known from the northeastern region. The first, Cnemaspis assamensis, was described in 2000.

(Source: The Hindu)