Camouflaged creature found in ‘sacred forests’ of Madagascar. It’s a new species
As darkness seeped across a “sacred” forest in southern Madagascar, a scaly creature climbed along a boulder. Something about the camouflaged animal caught the attention of visiting scientists — and for good reason.
It turned out to be a new species.
A team of researchers visited several “small and isolated forest fragments surrounding the Andringitra Massif” in 2018. These forests were “largely overlooked” in biodiversity surveys but still home to unique wildlife, according to a study published June 2 in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys.
During their “opportunistic searches,” researchers found several unfamiliar-looking lizards, the study said. They took a closer look at the reptiles, analyzed their DNA and realized they’d discovered a new species: Paragehyra tsaranoro, or the Tsaranoro half-padded gecko.
Tsaranoro half-padded geckos have “flattened” bodies reaching about 5 inches in length, the study said. Their snouts are “rounded,” and their eyes have “vertical” pupils.
Photos show the coloring of the new species, which varies from pale pinkish cream to dark brown. Their backs are a mixture of cream dots, orange-ish speckles and brown blotches. Overall, its pattern seems to blend in with the surrounding rocks.
Much about the lifestyle of Tsaranoro half-padded geckos remains unknown.
Generally, Paragehyra geckos, or half-padded geckos, are “mainly nocturnal,” rock-dwelling and native to Madagascar but remain “poorly studied,” researchers said.
The new species was usually found at night “both within the forest interior and along its edges, as well as outside the forest or along water streams, but always on boulders” near trees, the study said. One gecko was found on “a sloping trail.”
“The isolated forest fragments in the study area are characterised by numerous boulders, many of which are ancient Betsileo tombs,” researchers said. “This cultural significance has led to these areas being referred to as ‘Forêts sacrées’, i.e., ‘sacred forests’.”
Researchers said they named the new species after the Tsaranoro area where it was first discovered.
So far, Tsaranoro half-padded geckos have been found at only three sites “surrounding the Andringitra Massif,” a mountain in southeastern Madagascar, the study said.
Researchers considered the new species to be “critically endangered” because of its limited distribution, “severely fragmented” habitat and “ongoing deforestation, forest degradation, and fragmentation.”
The new species was identified by its scale pattern, claws, toe pads, texture and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 6% genetic divergence from other related species.
The research team included Francesco Belluardo, Costanza Piccoli, Javier Lobón-Rovira, Ivo Oliveira Alves, Malalatiana Rasoazanany, Franco Andreone, Gonçalo Rosa and Angelica Crottini.
This story was originally published June 2, 2025 at 2:39 PM with the headline "Camouflaged creature found in ‘sacred forests’ of Madagascar. It’s a new species."
