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The species is the second one of the Agasthyagama genus after A. beddomii that has been previously reported from Sivagiri hills in Tamil Nadu.
The biodiverse forests of Western Ghats have thrown up yet another marvel of evolution – a new species of tiny lizards, which researchers have described as a “diminutive dragon.”
Agasthyagama edge or the northern kangaroo lizard, which belongs to the Agamidae family, is known to have a maximum snout-vent length of 4.3 cm.
The Agasthyagama edge, also known as the northern kangaroo lizard.
It is a recently discovered species of lizard belonging to the Agamidae family.
It was first described in 2020 by a team of researchers led by Karthikeyan Vasudevan from the University of Calicut, India.
Size: It's a small lizard, with a maximum snout-vent length of 4.3 cm (1.7 inches).
Habitat: Found in the evergreen forests of the Idukki district in the Western Ghats of Kerala.
Behavior: Primarily terrestrial, spending most of its time on the forest floor amongst leaf litter.
The discovery of the Agasthyagama edge highlights the rich biodiversity of the Western Ghats.
This new species also helps us understand the evolutionary history of the Agamidae family and the factors that have led to the diversification of lizards in this region.
The Agasthyagama edge is currently listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN.
Its limited range and habitat preferences suggest that it may be vulnerable to threats such as habitat loss and degradation.
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