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A new species of kangaroo lizard, Agasthyagama edge, has been discovered in the Western Ghats mountains of India. This lizard, named after the Zoological Society of London’s EDGE of Existence Program, is a sister species to Agasthyagama beddomii. This discovery adds a second species to the Agasthyagama genus.
Researchers have recently identified and described a previously unknown species of kangaroo lizard from the Western Ghats mountains in India. This new species, named Agasthyagama edge sp. nov., is closely related to Agasthyagama beddomii and has been named after the Zoological Society of London’s EDGE of Existence Program. This exciting discovery brings the total number of species in the Agasthyagama genus to two.
More Than 80% of Amphibian Species in India’s Western Ghats are at Risk of Extinction
Agasthyagama edge is a small agamid lizard with a snout-to-vent length of 29-44.7mm. It can be found in tropical semi-evergreen forests at elevations of 636 to 835 meters. The lizard’s body color is a dull, olive brown with a darker head and enlarged scales. It also features a pale peach band behind the head that continues down the tail. The throat area has a dark brown stripe that starts from the posterior half of the mentum and gradually becomes an elongated brick red stripe that abruptly ends at the posterior half of the neck. The latter half of the stripe forms an elongated oval shape with a row of three to four bluish-white scales. During the mating season, males have a cream-colored throat patch.
Agasthyagama edge sp. nov. in life: A uncollected adult male from Kulamavu, Idukki; B uncollected female from the same locality. Images by Sandeep Das.
The researchers note in their paper that they were surprised to find this new species of kangaroo lizard, given that the area in which it was discovered had been heavily explored during the time of British colonization in India. They also mention that Agasthyagama edge is not as common as its sister species, Agasthyagama beddomii. The two species are separated geographically by 80km. The researchers found more lizards in undisturbed areas of vegetation compared to disturbed areas such as roadside vegetation and plantation areas.
The full research paper, ”Discovery of a new species of kangaroo lizard (Squamata: Agamidae: Agasthyagama) from the southern Western Ghats of India,” can be read on the open access Vertebrate Zoology website.
Wow, this is amazing! I can’t wait to learn more about this new species and its unique characteristics.