Researchers have found and described a brand new kangaroo lizard species of the Agasthyagama genus from the Western Ghats mountains of India. The lizard, Agasthyagama edge sp. nov. is a sister species to Agasthyagama beddomii. Agasthyagama edge is known as after the Zoological Society of London’s EDGE of Existence Program. This new discovering provides a second species within the Agasthyagama genus.
Extra Than 80% Of Amphibian Species In India’s Western Ghats Below Menace Of Extinction
Agasthyagama edge is a small agamid lizard with a snout to vent size of 29-44.7mm. It lives in tropical semi-evergreen forests at elevations of 636 to 835 meters. Its physique coloration is a boring, olive brown with a darker head and darker enlarged scales. It incorporates a pale peach band behind the pinnacle that continues down the tail. The throat space has a darkish brown stripe that begins from the “posterior half of the mentum, step by step changing into elongated brick pink stripe abruptly ending at posterior half of neck, the latter half of stripe forming an elongated oval form with a row three to 4 bluish-white scales.” Males have a cream coloured throat patch through the mating season.
Agasthyagama edge sp. nov. in life: A uncollected grownup male from Kulamavu, Idukki; B uncollected feminine from the identical locality. Images by Sandeep Das.
The researchers be aware of their paper a stage of shock in that this kangaroo lizard has not been found earlier than, particularly given the realm wherein it was discovered had been closely explored through the occasions of Indian colonization by England. They do say that Agasthyagama edge shouldn’t be as frequent as its sister species, Agasthyagama beddomii. the 2 species are separated geographically by 80km. The researchers discovered extra lizards in undisturbed areas of vegetation versus disturbed areas reminiscent of roadside vegetation and plantation areas.
The whole analysis paper, “Discovery of a brand new species of kangaroo lizard (Squamata: Agamidae: Agasthyagama) from the southern Western Ghats of India” might be learn on the open entry Vertebrate Zoology web site.
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