Why in News?
Recently (around April 2026), it has again come into focus due to a rare nocturnal sighting at Dilmili railway station in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, which drew attention from the state forest department and biodiversity watchers.
Discovery & Taxonomy
- Scientific Name: Eublepharis pictus.
- Initial Discovery: A specimen was first found dead in a water tank in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh in 2017.
- Genus Growth: Its identification brought the total number of species in the Eublepharis genus to seven.
- Differentiation: It is distinguished from its relatives by unique scale patterns (23–26 rows of scales) and a specific number of precloacal pores.
Physical Characteristics
- Size: It is relatively large for a leopard gecko, growing to approximately 11.7 cm (4.6 inches).
- Appearance: Its body is usually brown and yellow with leopard-like spots.
- Distinct Tail: The tail is marked by contrasting black and white bands, making it stand out from the rest of the body.
- Scales: It possesses over two dozen large, pointed scales along its back.
Habitat & Behaviour
- Geographic Range: Primarily found in the forests of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, separated from other species by the Brahmani River.
- Ecosystem: It prefers dry evergreen forests mixed with scrub and meadows.
- Nocturnal Nature: It is strictly nocturnal, meaning it stays hidden in burrows or under rocks during the day and hunts at night.
- Diet: It hunts on the ground for small creatures like frogs, scorpions, and earthworms.
- Sensory Organ: It has been observed licking surfaces while moving, using its tongue as a sensory organ to detect prey or navigate.
Conservation Status
- IUCN Suggestion: Researchers have suggested it be listed as Near Threatened (NT) due to its limited known habitat and threats.
- Threats: It is highly targeted for the illegal pet trade and wildlife smuggling because of its rare and colourful appearance.
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