Federation researchers discover three new gecko species in Nepal's remote wilderness

A Federation University researcher has led a team that has discovered three new species of geckoes in the remote mountains of Nepal, with the finding recently published in an international science journal.

The discovery was made by Santosh Bhattarai, a PhD candidate from Federation's Graduate Research School, who surveyed locations from Nepal's lowlands to the country's High Himalayas. The expeditions were from April to September 2023, with the research team searching for reptiles and amphibians known as herpetofauna.  

During night surveys in the mountains, the team documented four distinct populations of bent-toed geckoes in four locations in the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape in Central Nepal.

The team suspected that some of the populations could represent new species because of differences in their colour and body patterns.

Genetic testing confirmed that three new distinct species had been identified based on combinations of body characteristics and genetics, with the findings published in the journal Zootaxa.

In the paper, the researchers also examined the genetic relationships between Nepalese species of the bent-toed gecko group and synonymized (merged) two species that were previously described as Cyrtodactylus markuscombii and Cyrtodactylus martinstolli, using C. martinstolli as the new name for both of these groups.

The known species were found in separate corners of Nepal, and the three newly discovered species were found in central Nepal – about 500km away from the known species.

Mr Bhattarai, who is originally from Nepal and worked there as a conservation officer, says the country's unique geography makes it rich in plant and animal diversity. Nepal has elevations ranging from the lowland Terai plains through to Mt Everest.

"Because of that diversity and the abundance of wildlife, previous conservation efforts in Nepal have focused more on the larger and well-known species. Nepal has tigers, rhinoceros, and elephants in the lowlands, as well as other mammals like snow leopards and red pandas in the Himalayas," he said.

"But because of global climate change and other environmental issues, including habitat fragmentation, under-studied species like these geckoes are vulnerable.

"My core interest has always been in reptiles and amphibians, such as lizards, frogs and snakes. To survive, they need a special kind of environment, and if there is a slight change in their habitat, there is a risk that some species could become extinct."

Despite the great differences in topography, Nepal, which is sandwiched between China to its North and India to its south, is only about 850 by 200 kilometres in size.  

In the field, the expedition crews spent days and nights looking for the geckoes because different species are active at different times. The challenging topography meant the team had to walk for days to get to the remote locations. They employed local guides and porters to carry equipment, including lighting necessary for working at night.  

Two of the three new species were named after the locations where they were discovered. The newly identified ACAP Bent-toed gecko Cyrtodactylus annapurnaensis was found in the Annapurna Conservation Area, one of the world's most famous trekking destinations and Nepal's largest protected area, within the Annapurna range of the Himalayas.

Another of the newly identified species was named Cytrodactylus chitwanensis, as it was first spotted in Chitwan. Chitwan is famous for its large mammals, including the Bengal tiger, the Greater-horned rhinoceros and the Gharial crocodile.

The third species was found in the Manaslu Conservation Area and was named Cyrtodactylus karanshahi in honour of Nepali herpetologist Professor Karan Bahadur Shah, who has contributed to the field of herpetology – the study of reptiles and amphibians – for more than 40 years.  

The comprehensive work involved collaborations with colleagues from the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation in India and the Museum for Nuturkunde Berlin in Germany.

Mr Bhattarai's decision to study at Federation came after a long collaboration with Professor of Conservation Biology and Dean of the Graduate School, Wendy Wright, who regularly visits Nepal with groups of undergraduate students.

Mr Bhattarai’s previous experience working for Nepal's National Trust for Nature Conservation was key to facilitating the Federation University expedition.

"This is an exciting find, and the work demonstrates that there may be other unknown and undocumented species in Nepal's remote mountains, valleys and plains. Nepal's reptiles are an under-researched group," he said.

"Without this kind of rigorous research to document Nepal's reptile biodiversity, many unnamed species may become extinct in the face of climate change and other environmental pressures."

Mr Bhattarai's PhD is funded by the Australian Government's Destination Australia program, and Federation University Australia, with fieldwork funded by the Rufford Foundation, UK and the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund, USA.