Six new lineages of bent-toed geckos have been discovered from the Northeast

Current Context: Six new species of bent-toed geckos have been identified in Northeastern India. These discoveries were made during surveys conducted between 2018 and 2022, when scientists collected species samples from 22 locations.

• Some details about these fascinating geckos:
• Namdapha Bent-Toed Gecko: Documented from the Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh, this species is widespread within lowland evergreen forests of the Namdapha and Kamlang Tiger Reserves. It’s mostly seen along forest streams, rocks, and vegetation.
• Siang Valley Bent-Toed Gecko: Located in the valley of the Siang river (known for its unique biodiversity), this gecko was named after its habitat.
• Ngengpui Bent-Toed Gecko: Discovered in the Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary of Mizoram, this species inhabits a tropical semi-evergreen to moist evergreen forest.
• Manipur Bent-Toed Gecko: Found near the Lamdan Kabui village in Manipur, this gecko perched on a shrub at an elevation of nearly 1.5 meters.
• Kiphire Bent-Toed Gecko: Discovered in Nagaland, this species thrives between elevations of 740 meters and 1,300 meters above sea level in a regenerating jhum land.
• Barail Hill Bent-Toed Gecko: Also found in Nagaland, this gecko inhabits a reserved forest at similar elevations.

Question:

1 Where was the Namdapha Bent-Toed Gecko discovered?

• A) Siang Valley
• B) Namdapha Tiger Reserve
• C) Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary
• D) Lamdan Kabui village

Answer: B) Namdapha Bent-Toed Gecko discovered from the Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh, this species is widespread within lowland evergreen forests of the Namdapha and Kamlang Tiger Reserves.