ROOPAK GOSWAMI
Shillong, April 15: A gecko long believed to be confined to Sohra has now been recorded in South West Khasi Hills, with researchers saying the finding highlights gaps in the understanding of Meghalaya’s biodiversity.
The species, Cyrtodactylus khasiensis, was earlier known mainly from the Khasi Hills around Cherrapunjee. However, a new study has confirmed its presence further west, based on fresh field sampling and genetic analysis.
Researchers found that a specimen collected from South West Khasi Hills showed only minor genetic difference from previously recorded populations, confirming it as the same species and extending its known range within the state.
The finding suggests that suitable habitats for the gecko may be more widespread across Meghalaya than earlier documented, particularly in districts that have received limited scientific attention.
The study, published in the European Journal of Taxonomy, was conducted by Sanath Chandra Bohra, Arnab Deb, Goldenstar Thongni, Rupankar Bhattacharjee, Lal Biakzuala, Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga, Pranjal Swargiary and Rita Roy.
Alongside the Meghalaya finding, the researchers have described a new species of bent-toed gecko, Cyrtodactylus jayadityai, from Tripura—adding to growing evidence of the Northeast’s hidden reptile diversity. The species has been named after an Assam herpetologist Dr Jayaditya Purkayastha.
Tripura itself lies at the meeting point of two major biogeographic zones—the Indo-Burma hill systems to the east and the lowland forest landscapes extending towards Bangladesh—creating a mix of tropical evergreen and deciduous habitats.
The newly described species has been recorded from lowland areas below 200 metres in North Tripura district, not far from the Jampui Hills bordering Mizoram. So far, only one other species of the same genus has been documented in that ecological niche, indicating how little explored the region remains.
The researchers note that more sampling is needed to understand how the species fits into the broader evolutionary landscape of the region.
“We therefore highlight the urgency of continued, systematic field-based investigations in these biologically rich but historically neglected landscapes,” the authors said, warning that such micro-endemic species are particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation.
For Meghalaya, however, the key takeaway lies closer home.
The confirmation of Cyrtodactylus khasiensis in South West Khasi Hills indicates that the state’s biodiversity is still not fully documented, especially outside well-studied areas like Sohra.
Researchers say further surveys in underexplored districts could reveal additional populations—or even new species—hidden in Meghalaya’s forests.
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