A New Discovery In India: Paragliding Lizard

According to a study that was published in May in the journal Nature, researchers in India have discovered a new species of paragliding gecko. This discovery highlights the need for comprehensive documentation of the region’s biodiversity.

Researchers in northeastern India were surveying gecko populations when they came across these reptiles with wide-open eyes and grin on their face.

The mini-lizards have been given the name “parachute geckos” by researchers due to their behavior of gliding from tree to tree. The scientific name of the creature is Gekko mizoramensis.

When the animals want to move through the air more quickly, they use skin flaps along with their bodies and tails.

According to the study, parachute geckos can be found in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia; however, according to the findings of the study, this is the first time researchers have spotted the new species in India.

The geckos that were discovered in India by scientists are distinct from other types of parachute geckos, some of which are capable of gliding for up to 200 feet.

Gekko mizoramensis are nocturnal creatures that employ scent simulations as a means of self-defense while they are in the air. According to the findings of the study, the reptiles were most active just before the onset of dusk. They would hunt and ambush their prey, which consisted of various insects such as beetles, roaches, moths, and others.

During their research trips in India, the investigators captured the geckos using their bare hands. Every reptile was discovered at elevations ranging from approximately 150 to 360 centimeters above the ground.

Conclusion- 

Some of the highlights of the study done in India are-

• In India, researchers were able to identify a previously unknown species of paragliding gecko.

• The happy reptiles are able to glide from tree to tree using flaps of skin that run along their bodies.

• According to the researchers, this discovery brings to light a gap in the documentation of the region’s rich biodiversity.

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