Rare Ground Gecko

• Animal group: Reptile; belongs to the order Squamata and the infraorder Gekkota.
• Habitat: Geckos are commonly associated with rocky habitats, forests, caves and human settlements, depending on the species.
• Adaptations: Many geckos are nocturnal and have specialised toe pads that help them climb smooth surfaces.
• Biodiversity importance: Rare and range-restricted geckos may be vulnerable to habitat loss, fragmentation and disturbance.
• Conservation: Habitat protection and further taxonomic research are important for poorly studied species.

Important: “Rare ground gecko” is not specific enough to identify a single species with certainty. Its exact scientific name and distribution should be confirmed before memorising species-specific facts for the exam.

Current Affairs: Jeypore Ground Gecko

The likely current-affairs reference is the Jeypore ground gecko (Cyrtodactylus jeyporensis), which faces a threat from a proposed bauxite mining project in Odisha. Recent reporting says only four individuals were documented in the Balda Hills over the past year.

• Distribution: Eastern Ghats, particularly Odisha; associated records extend towards Andhra Pradesh.
• Rediscovery: Rediscovered in 2010 after being known from an old specimen collected in the 19th century.
• Habitat: Rocky hills, boulder crevices and leaf litter.
• Behaviour: Nocturnal and ground-dwelling.
• Major threats: Mining, habitat destruction and disturbance.
• Conservation concern: A narrow distribution and low recorded numbers can increase vulnerability to habitat changes.

Odisha’s Balda Hills

• Location: Koraput district, southern Odisha.
• Physiographic region: Eastern Ghats.
• Forest area: Associated with the Nageswari Reserve Forest.
• In the news: A proposed bauxite mining project covering approximately 147 hectares of forest has raised biodiversity and tribal-rights concerns.
• Important species: Jeypore ground gecko (Cyrtodactylus jeyporensis), a rare, range-restricted reptile.
• Other biodiversity: The area is also reported to harbour the limbless amphibian Gegeneophis orientalis.
• Tribal communities: Bondo and Porja Adivasis have raised concerns about ancestral land and forest rights.
• Relevant laws: Forest Rights Act, 2006; PESA Act, 1996; and environmental clearance provisions.

UPSC Prelims MCQs

Q1. Consider the following statements about the Jeypore ground gecko:

1. It is a reptile.
2. It is associated with the Eastern Ghats.
3. It is primarily threatened by marine pollution.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

 (b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only

Explanation: The gecko is a ground-dwelling reptile associated with rocky habitats in the Eastern Ghats. Habitat destruction, including mining-related disturbance, is a major concern.

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