A team of researchers from Thackeray Wildlife Foundation recently discovered two new gecko species in India. One of the newly discovered species was named Cnemaspis vangoghi in the honor of famous painter Vincent Van Gogh.
Cnemaspis vangoghi received its name thanks to its colorful appearance and combination of blue and yellow that resembles the motifs and patterns found in Van Gogh’s masterpiece “Starry Night.” The second species, Cnemapsis sathuragiriensis, was named after Sathuragiri Hills, the region it inhabits.
Thackeray Wildlife Foundation team found the two new gecko species while researching the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hot spot where scientists regularly discover new species, in April 2022. They were initially believed to be specimens of Cnemaspis galaxia, but DNA testing showed that it is a closely related but distinct species. The researchers shared their findings in a recent paper published in ZooKeys journal.
“These species live in low-elevation deciduous forests of Srivilliputhur, adding to the five known endemic vertebrates in the area. The geckos exhibit strong sexual dichromatism, are diurnal (active during the cooler parts of the day), and are commonly found on rocks, buildings, and occasionally trees,” Thackeray Wildlife Foundation shared in a social media post announcing the discovery.
