New slender gecko species found in Andhra's Eastern Ghats
Scientists just discovered a tiny new gecko, Hemiphyllodactylus venkatadri, hiding under sandalwood tree bark in the Tirumala Hills of Andhra Pradesh.
It's only the second of its kind found in the state and adds to the Eastern Ghats's reputation as a biodiversity hotspot.
What makes this gecko special?
This little lizard maxes out at about 34mm and stands out with unique features like a higher number of chin scales (12-16) and a distinct 2-2-2-2 lamellar pattern on its limbs (toe pads).
Genetic tests confirmed it's different from other Indian geckos by almost 10-13%, making it officially a new species.
A name with meaning
Named after the sacred Venkatadri Hills—Sanskrit for "mountain that removes sins"—this discovery is a reminder of how much there's still left to explore (and protect) in India's wild places.