Meet Cnemaspis Vangoghi, a recently identified small-sized gecko (lizard) species in the nature’s world whose dazzling hues and vibrant patterns on its back pay homage to Vincent Van Gogh’s timeless masterpiece “Starry Night”. With echoes of the iconic painting, this remarkable find by a team of wildlife researchers from Tamil Nadu’s Southern Western Ghats adds to the wildlife treasure, enriching the biodiversity of our natural world.
This serendipitous find by the scientists from the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation occurred during an expedition in the Southern State region in April 2022.
Ishan Agarwal, who took part in the study to describe the new lizard, explained that the striking colouration of the male lizards, with their yellow head and forebody and light blue spots on the back, reminded them of Van Gogh’s iconic painting.
The naming of the lizard is our tribute to the great painter, said the team including Agarwal and other researchers Akshay Khandekar and Tejas Thackeray. Depicting a mesmerizing night sky filled with swirling clouds, bright stars, and a crescent moon over a tranquil village, the painting “Starry Night” is celebrated for its vibrant colors, dynamic brushwork, and emotive expression, capturing the artist’s unique vision and emotional depth. It is said that Van Gogh painted The Starry Night during his 12-month stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in France.
The finding of the new species of gecko has been published in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys. Besides, the small-sized gecko that can reach 3.4 cm in length, the team from the Foundation also discovered yet another new species named Cnemaspis sathuragiriensis, from the low-elevation forests of Srivilliputhur. Cnemaspis sathuragiriensis is named for its type locality, the Sathuragiri Hills. The two new species are found in low elevation (250-400 m above sea level) deciduous forests of Srivilliputhur and add to the five previously known endemic vertebrates from Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu. These lizards are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day, mainly during the cool hours of early morning and evening. They are primarily found on rocks and occasionally on buildings and trees, Agarwal said, adding that the team expects to unveil over 50 new lizard species from Tamil Nadu, highlighting the region’s exceptional biodiversity.
“Tamil Nadu is an exceptionally biodiverse State and we expect to name well over 50 new species of lizards by the time we are done [with our expeditions]!,” Agarwal further said.
The discovery of the Starry Night inspired lizard not only adds to our knowledge of the incredible biodiversity found in the Southern Western Ghats but also highlights the importance of conservation efforts to protect these unique and often localized species, he pointed out.
