Scientists have discovered a new species of lizard in the lush Western Ghats mountain range in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
The small reptile is a form of gecko and was found by taxonomist Varad Giri in the Kolhapur district. It has been named Cnemasspis kolhapurensis.
Mr Giri and his co-workers published their findings in this month's edition of the Zootaxa journal.
It is the third new species of lizard recently discovered in the area.
Mr Giri, a curator at the Bombay Natural History Society, told the BBC that the Western Ghats has never been surveyed for amphibians and reptiles.
"A gecko of this particular character has not been recognised elsewhere in the world," he said. . . .
The Western Ghats mountain range is said to be one of the world's "biodiversity hotspots".
But analysts say that the area is at risk of a biodiversity crisis, because it has long been under threat from logging and human encroachment.
Mr Giri says the discovery may well help in arguments to preserve parts of the landscape.
"This is really important now because there is a lot of human interference and deforestation," he said.
link: BBC NEWS | South Asia | New lizard species found in India
link: BBC NEWS | South Asia | New lizard species found in India
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