Mizoram University is proud to announce the discovery of two new species of bent-toed geckos—Cyrtodactylus himachalensis and Cyrtodactylus shivalikensis—in the western Himalayas. This significant scientific breakthrough was achieved by Virender K. Bhardwaj, PhD scholar, and his supervisor, Prof. H. T. Lalremsanga from Mizoram University, in collaboration with their research team.
The newly identified geckos were discovered in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, and Reasi, Jammu & Kashmir. Their identification was confirmed through meticulous morphological and genetic analysis.
The research findings have been published in the international journal Zootaxa and are officially registered with ZooBank. This discovery not only highlights the rich and largely unexplored reptile diversity of India’s Himalayan region but also underscores the importance of conservation and continued biodiversity research in these ecologically sensitive areas.
Mizoram University congratulates the entire research team on this remarkable achievement, which brings further recognition to the University’s ongoing commitment to scientific exploration and environmental stewardship.
