Pregnant creature — with ‘glossy’ belly — found on road in India. It’s a new species
On a road in southern India, a pregnant creature went about its day. With its “glossy white” belly against the ground, the “cryptic” animal seemed to blend in with its surroundings — but not well enough.
Visiting scientists spotted the animal — and discovered a new species.
Researchers visited hundreds of sites in Tamil Nadu between 2018 and 2023 in search of wildlife, according to a study published Jan. 19 in the journal Vertebrate Zoology. The large-scale search had one goal: find and identify a specific type of lizard.
While surveying the Pachaimalai Hills area, researchers found an “abundance” of lizards that they didn’t recognize, the study said. They captured 12 of these “cryptic” lizards and, taking a closer look, realized they’d discovered a new species: Dravidoseps tamilnaduensis, or the Tamil Nadu leaf-litter skink.
Tamil Nadu leaf-litter skinks are considered “medium-sized,” reaching just over 4 inches in length, the study said. They have “relatively slender” bodies with “short” heads and “short” limbs. On their lower eyelids, the skinks have a “transparent central window.” Their nostrils have a “trapezoidal” shape.
Photos show several Tamil Nadu leaf-litter skinks. They have a “dark bronze-brown” coloring with black stripes running down their sides. Seen from above, the skinks blend in with the surrounding rocks. Seen from below, they have a “glossy white” belly with some darker markings.
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Tamil Nadu leaf-litter skinks are most active during the day and were found under rocks or in leaves on the floor of evergreen forests, researchers said. One female skink was found pregnant with two babies.
Unlike most lizards, which reproduce by laying eggs, researchers said the new species is viviparous, meaning it reproduces by giving birth to live young.
Researchers said they named the new species after Tamil Nadu, the state where it was discovered. So far, the new species has been found at three sites in this state within about 40 miles of each other.
Tamil Nadu is the southernmost state in India and about 1,200 miles south of New Delhi.
The new species was identified by its eyelids, reproduction method, scale pattern and DNA, the study said.
The research team included Ishan Agarwal, Tejas Thackeray and Akshay Khandekar.
The team also discovered a new genus of skinks, Dravidoseps, and four more new species: a “bronze” one, a “dark brown” one, “coconut brown” one and “dull bronze-brown” one.
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