Nepal

A new species of lizard has been discovered in Nepal.

Experts have confirmed the presence of another species of lizard in the country.

The reptile is scientifically named Takydromus sikkimensis and its common name is 'Sikkim Chheparo'.  It belongs to the 'Lacertidae' family in the classification of the animal kingdom.

This species of reptile was found during a bio-diversity study based in the Chure region at Miklajung Rural Municipality in Morang district.

With this, the number of species of lizards found in Nepal has reached to 41. 

A team of animal conservationists comprising Bibek Gautam, Santosh Bhattarai and Dr Ram Chandra Kandel detected the reptile.

After recording it in the country's reptilian database, the number of families of lizards available in Nepal has reached seven, according to Nepal Conservation and Research Center's Herpetologist Bhattarai. 

So far, 24 species of Takydromus lizard have been detected globally and prior to this Takydromus Sikkimensis was found only in Sikkim of India. Therefore, it was named after  the name of the town.

For the first time, this species of lizard was found in Sikkim in 1888 and its second detection was confirmed in 2009, which is after 121 years in Sikkim.

According to Bibek Gautam, researcher at the Biodiversity Research and Conservation Society, the Takydromus Sikkimensis has been lately found in Panchthar and the Chulachuli area of Ilam.

Gautam said that the team noticed the animal as they were visiting the sites in course of the regular study of water lizards. 

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