Guwahati: A new species of gecko has been discovered in Assam’s Kokrajhar district near Raimona National Park, adding to the state’s biodiversity.The species, named ‘Cyrtodactylus Raimonaensis’, was recorded from Kachugaon in Kokrajhar and identified by a research team. The findings were published in ‘Zootaxa’ — a scientific journal.According to field observations, the geckos were seen on tree trunks, fallen logs and forest floor, typically in moist, shaded habitats near streams. The species was found to be primarily nocturnal with peak activity beginning a few hours after sunset.Researchers said the species was discovered in a non-protected forest fragment at the confluence of the India-Burma and eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspots that remains under-explored.With limited information on its distribution and population, the researchers recommended a ‘data deficient’ status under IUCN criteria and called for wider surveys across the Raimona landscape and adjoining areas.The research team comprised Bijay Basfore, Manmath Bharali, Rathin Barman, Sanatan Deka, Nazrul Islam, Arnab Deb, Jayaditya Purkayastha, Rupankar Bhattacharjee, Madhurima Das, Arup Kumar Hazarika, Anjana Singha Naorem and Sanath Chandra Bohra.
