#megamalai

[warningsine]

Half a world away and 133 years after Vincent van Gogh painted “The Starry Night,” the masterpiece sprang to Ishan Agarwal’s mind when he spied a small, colorful gecko among the rocks. 

In 2022, the biologist traveled to the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, a rugged series of species-rich mountains running parallel to India’s western coast, to look for invertebrates new to science. Agarwal, with the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation in Mumbai, logged more than 12,400 miles over many months, not finding much beyond the ticks that covered him head to toe. (Read about the purple pig-nose frog that's native to the Western Ghats.)

He began to wonder what he was trying to accomplish. Then, a glimpse of the blue-and-yellow gecko, evoking those iconic swirls of mustard yellow and deep cobalt of van Gogh’s painting, changed all that.

The van Gogh starry dwarf gecko, as it’s named, is one of two new, closely related species in the Cnemapsis genus described in a recent study in the journal ZooKeys.

“We have incredibly diverse fauna, but we know little about it,” Agarwal says of the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hot spot where new species are regularly discovered.

A lizard of a different color

That first C. vangoghi specimen, found in the Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve, was an male that resembled another recently discovered Cnemaspis species named C. galaxia. So it wasn’t until Agarwal got the reptile, whose body is about an inch long, back to the lab and analyzed its DNA that he found it was genetically distinct.

“One part of the reason we are discovering so many species is that we have molecular data that can show two different populations actually represent two different species,” Agarwal says. “These species are ridiculously diverse.” (Learn how geckos evolved their sticky feet.)

Like its cousin, the male C. vangoghi displays brighter colors than females. Agarwal also collected female specimens on his trip, which sport muted hues of blue and yellow. 

Travis Hagey, an evolutionary biologist at the Mississippi University for Women, says that this distinctive coloration can make the gecko more visible to predators, but females favor the robust hues when selecting mates.

“It’s a constant push and pull,” he says.

Understudied species

And while it’s too soon to say what, if any, threats these geckos are facing, Agarwal says that the reptiles’ discovery within the tiger reserve gives them a safety buffer that many other species don’t have.

Another benefit to C. vangoghi is the Western Ghats are mostly undeveloped, in part because their steep, mountainous terrain is difficult to access—even for experienced researchers. 

Challenges persist at lower elevations, where it’s easy to miss new species hiding in shady, rocky areas on the forest floor or along streams.

On top of that, lizards are especially understudied, says James Stroud, an evolutionary ecologist at Georgia Tech who wasn’t involved in the study.

“There just aren’t enough lizard biologists,” he says.

‘They’re all special’

But that hasn’t stopped Agarwal and other scientists from launching expeditions into region, efforts that have gained momentum in recent years. 

For instance, 20 years ago, scientists knew of only a handful of Cnemaspis species. Now, there are more than a hundred recorded in India and Sri Lanka alone.

From a global perspective, at least 2,300 Cnemapsis species exist in the scientific literature, a major increase from a thousand species only a few years ago, says Aaron Bauer, an ecologist at Villanova University and gecko expert who was not involved in the study. 

“There are new geckos being described all the time, and India is one of those areas where there’s really a lot going on,” he says. (See beautiful photos of the Western Ghats' landscapes.)

To Hagey, the discovery adds another piece of knowledge to Earth’s biodiversity puzzle.

“These papers are important because they’re another step forward in understanding how complicated our ecosystems are,” he says.

“We have to understand that, ‘Hey, there’s a whole group of geckos here that we didn’t even know about, and they're all special."

[tempotravellerrentalchennai]

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[sureswarasworld]

Sunset at megamalai , tamilnad, india

[vacationspots]

#Megamalai

#MegamalaiWildlife

#MegamalaiWildlifeSanctuary

#MegamalaiTourism

[postforsaji]

Megamalai - Tamil Nadu #serenity #megamalai #megamalai_trip (at Megamalai) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb7e8ddv4kEdsQwwi2Im4ThtBWXp_QsP87DzL40/?utm_medium=tumblr

[sivasudartravels]

#theni #Vaigai #Dam #Suruli #falls #Kumbakkarai #Sanneswarer #Top #station #Kurangani #Megamalai #Wilde #Life #Chinna #Veerapandi #Gowmariamman #tour #travel #journey

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[sathappan-dharun]

ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴀʀᴅᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟɪᴍʙ ; ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪᴇᴡ . . . . . . . Pc ; @_migrating_weird_ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #summer #nature #megamalai #travel #sky #meghamalai #landscape #spring #vacation #trip #live #adventure #street #holidays #tree #traveling #outdoors #summertime #hiking #man #people #theni #offroading #road #one #scenery #journey #outside #child #grass (at Megamalai) https://www.instagram.com/p/CThL0MFIXuY/?utm_medium=tumblr

[kodaistories]

#Repost @_aswinmanohar_ (@get_repost) ・・・ grows in the fuckin' grass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #kodaikanal #chinnasuruli #kodaikanaldiaries #top10placestovisitintheni #flightticketing #kodai #megamalai #kuttikanam #kodaikanaltrip #arsathmc #thekkady #kodaikanaltourism #saneeswararkuchanur #vagamon #theni #vattakanal #ramakkalmedu #ooty #chengalpattudistrict #munnar #kodaikanal😍 #thiruvanamalai #tamilnadutourism #vandavasi #chengalpattu #tindivanam #madurai #valparai #kodaistories (at Poombarai) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPSEThIHAvY/?utm_medium=tumblr

[chillberg-resort]

Escape to Theni: A Guide to Hill Stations, Waterfalls & Hidden Gems (with Resort Recommendations)

Looking to plan a rejuvenating trip this season? Explore the captivating hill stations and must-visit tourist spots in Theni to make the most out of your holidays. Stay at one of the renowned resorts in Theni situated near all the famous sights and outdoor recreation areas.

Theni and its surrounding locales like Bodimettu offer stunning landscapes combined with a rich cultural heritage as one of the gateways to the Western Ghats. The serene hill town serves as an access point to popular destinations like Megamalai, Suruli Falls, Vaigai Dam, and more, attracting travelers year-round.

Must Explore Theni tourist places

From trekking and wildlife to laid-back holidays, these are the top recommended spots for tourists in Theni and Bodimettu areas:

Suruli Falls — Enchanting cascades nestled amidst lush greenery, ideal for picnics and hiking

Meghamalai — Misty highlands renowned for the challenging High Wavy Mountains trek

Vaigai Dam — Scenic reservoir near Andipatti offering vistas of verdant mountains and valleys

CSI Church — Historic 1910 church boasting splendid Gothic architecture

Sothuparai Dam — Impressive dam surrounded by forests featuring a Botanical Garden park

Getting the Most Out of Your Stay

Discover comfort blending luxury, adventure, and nature all in one stay, starting at eco-friendly rates. Select from guest houses and rooms equipped with modern amenities, open gardens, and spaces for relaxation. Multi-cuisine restaurants, recreational zones, event venues, and attentive hospitality ensure a seamless vacation experience.

Immerse yourself in Tamil Nadu’s natural treasures by planning the ultimate holiday in Theni this season. Let us know how we can customize everything from sightseeing to resort packages tailored to your group’s interests!

[cevenkatesan]

some fav. pics from childhood to now! ❣️ #throwback #childhood #okok #funny #niece #bike #stopit #rockclimbing #graduation #dslrphotography #faceapp #megamalai (at Mom's Lap) https://www.instagram.com/p/CA9P-0pJ37G/?igshid=kkpx40joa0u1

[abdulmalick]

After long years with friends.. #friends #travel #cumbum #theni #megamalai (at Cumbum, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1MruTVl0S7/?igshid=ypiyrbfwoqdq

[arunsv]

P.c @ranjithjoz #casual #candid #trip #tour#megamalai #kumuli #thekkady #tamilnadutourism #kerala #landofgod #handsomemen #trimmedbeard (at Meghamalai) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwlqEDJAMy_/?igshid=16aca66v9wqui

[rajkumarla]

Hoopoe (Upupa epops) #birds #photography #nature #megamalai #manalar #highwavymountains #highwavy #westernghats #wildlifephotography #birdlover #birdwatching #birding #natureclicks #totravelistolive #traveldiaries #wildlife #indianbirds #birdphotography #indianfauna #wild #nature #beautifulbirds #hoopoe #commonhoopoe #upupaepops (at Manalar Bungalow)