Guwahati: A new scientific review has revealed that Northeast India has become one of the fastest-growing regions for lizard discoveries, with 34 new species described between 2018 and 2025. The review, published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa, compiles two decades of research and presents an updated checklist of 84 lizard species representing six families and 19 genera found across the northeastern states.
The study, “A review of 21st century studies on lizards in northeastern India with an updated regional checklist,” by Manmath Bharali, Manab Jyoti Kalita, Narayan Sharma, and Ananda Ram Boro, shows how molecular techniques and systematic surveys have transformed reptilian diversity understanding in this biodiverse region.
Cnemaspis brahmaputra (From Assam, 2025)
Most of the newly described species belong to Cyrtodactylus — the bent-toed geckos — now recognized as the third-largest genus of vertebrates in the world. Since Cyrtodactylus khasiensis was restricted to the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya in 2018, at least 27 new Cyrtodactylus species have been described from Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Tripura. These discoveries, as noted in the study, underscore how heavily the region’s lizard diversity was previously underestimated due to limited sampling and reliance on traditional morphology-based taxonomy.
Among the remarkable additions are Cnemaspis brahmaputra, discovered on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River; Calotes sinyik, a dragon lizard from the Subansiri basin in Arunachal Pradesh; and Protoblepharus apatani, a new skink genus described from Talle Valley. The study also documents rediscoveries of species once thought to be extinct — such as Draco norvillii, the gliding lizard of Assam, and Takydromus sikkimensis, the grass lizard of Sikkim, both of which were found after a century.
While Assam and Mizoram have seen significant research, Nagaland and Manipur are still underexplored, indicating likely undiscovered or misidentified species. “Northeastern India holds immense potential for the discovery of cryptic lizard species that remain undocumented,” the paper concludes.
Cyrtodactylus vanarakshaka (recently described from Dimahasao)
The study also brings attention to other aspects of reptilian studies, including habitat loss, highway mortality, and persecution of monitor lizards, emphasizing the need for conservation-driven research. It points out that accurate species identification through genetic studies is essential to inform effective protection measures, especially as urban expansion and deforestation continue to threaten reptilian habitats.
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By reviewing 73 publications and verifying conservation statuses using the IUCN Red List, the authors provide the first comprehensive baseline for lizard research in the region in the 21st century. Their findings reinforce Northeast India’s global importance as a hotspot for biodiversity and underline the critical role of local scientists in uncovering its hidden fauna.
The study’s message is clear: in the dense forests, limestone caves, and river valleys of the Northeast, many lizard species are still waiting to be named. Each new discovery not only expands scientific knowledge but also builds the foundation for safeguarding these unique ecosystems for future generations.
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