Cyrtodactylus varadgiri:
A relatively uncommon gecko species, Cyrtodactylus varadgirii, named after noted scientist Varad Giri, was recently spotted in Aarey forest by wildlife enthusiasts and a researcher.
- Cyrtodactylus varadgirii (Giri’s Geckoella) is a species of gecko in the gekkonidae family.
- It is nocturnal, insectivorous, and terrestrial, living in dense leaf litter on the forest floor.
- It is endemic to India and found in parts of western and Central India, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.
- The gecko was first discovered in 2016.
- It is one of the widely distributed but poorly known ground-dwelling geckos from India.
- It is also unusual among its close relatives in being associated not only with natural habitats but also with open and human-modified landscapes, including urban green spaces.
- Except for the record of the occurrence of this species from various locations, mostly during the monsoon, information on other aspects of its natural history is highly understudied.
