In June 2025, Indian scientists discovered over 10 new species across the country—from geckos in Tamil Nadu to jumping spiders in Karnataka and flowering plants in Rajasthan. These discoveries highlight India’s rich biodiversity and the importance of habitat conservation.
🦎 New Gecko Species Discovered in Tamil Nadu
A new species of Gecko present only in the Conoor region of Tamil Nadu has been discovered. The gecko has been named Dravidogecko coonoor. It’s discovered was published in the journal Bionomina recently. Speaking to The Hindu, the discovery team of scientists said that the gecko was earlier thought to be the same species known as Dravidogecko anamallensis. However, on further detailed analysis and surveys, it was found that their are 8 distinct Dravidogecko species found in the Western Ghats, and this particular one is only found in Conoor. The gecko was found in montane forests as well as human habitations and plantations of the area. The discovery was made by authors A. Abinesh, R.S. Naveen, A.N. Srikanthan, S. Babu, and S.R. Ganesh.
🪱 Two Earthworm Species Found in Tripura
Two new species of earthworms — Kanchuria tripuraensis and Kanchuria priyasankari — have been officially discovered in Tripura by researchers in Tripura and Kerala lead by Dr. Animesh Dey, Assistant Professor at the Ecology and Biodiversity Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Tripura University. The two earthworms were earlier collected in 2004 and 2010 but it was only after a new team of researchers collected fresh specimen of the species that they could be formally described. Kanchuria tripuraensis was found in rubber and pineapple plantations of the state, highlighting how modified agricultural land too could be a habitat for soil dwelling species. The second species Kanchuria priyasankari has been named after Prof. Priyasankar Chaudhuri, whose four-decade-long dedication to earthworm taxonomy has led to many discoveries in the region. The genus Kanchuria, which is endemic to Northeast India, now comprises 10 species with these new additions.
🌸 New Flowering Plant Found near Jaipur’s Aravalli Hills
Nishant Chauhan, a committee member of the Satpura Biodiversity Conservation Society (SBCS) noticed a unique flowering plant growing on the rocky hill terrain near the famous Galtaji Temple of Aravali Hills near Jaipur, Rajasthan. The plant was growing on rocky crevices. Specimen was collected and grown in controlled conditions in Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur and later in Lucknow to monitor growth patterns, flowering, and morphological stability across environments. After comparison with other known species, the new plant was described as Portulaca bharat and named as a new discovery. There are only 10 individuals of the species that were found to be growing in the natural habitat. Worldwide, there are 153 species of Portulaca. These are succulents that have water-storing tissues and ability to survive in tough environments. India has 11 currently known Portulaca species.
🕷️ Jumping Spiders Identified in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
Spiders from the the genera Spartaeus and Sonoita (specific groups within subfamily) till now were known to be found in Southeast Asia and Africa. For the first time scientists have discovered a new species named Spartaeus karigiri, after Karigiri, or Elephant Hill, in Devarayanadurga, Karnataka. More specimens were also discovered in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district.These spiders, part of the Salticidae family, are known for their keen eyesight and unique hunting methods, often deceiving other spiders by mimicking prey. In addition, Sonoita cf. lightfooti, a species previously thought to be confined to Africa, was also identified in Karnataka.
Read More: New Climber Discovered from the Western Ghats
🦎 New Skink Species Discovered in Andhra Pradesh
Skinks are snake-like lizards that have tiny limbs and long bodies. A new species of skink was discovered from the Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve, part of the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh. The Deccan Gracilis Skink resembles a snake, with distinctive stripes and semi-transparent eyelids. It was also found in the Amrabad Tiger Reserve in Telangana.
✨ New Firefly Species from Sundarbans and Kolkata
Bethune College assistant professor Srinjana Ghosh discovered two new firefly species – one in Sundarabans world heritage site and another in thakurpur area in Kolkata. The species, christened Triangulara sunderbanensis and Medeopteryx bengalensis were published in journal Oriental Insects.
🐝 Parasitic Wasp Found in Chandigarh
‘Losgna Occidentalis’ is a parasitic wasp that was collected from an urban scrub forest in Chandigarh from a windowsill in 2023-24. The group is known for laying eggs inside arthopod hosts. Before this discovery, no Losgna genus has been identified in India since 1965.
🪱 Two New Millipedes from the Western Ghats
Scientists have discovered two new millipede from Maharashtra and Kerala in the Western Ghats. The discovery of and Polydrepanum spinatum was published in the journal Zootaxa. With this, the millipede count of India has risen to 270 with 70% of the species endemic to India. Though small, millipedes play an important role as decomposers and enriching soil nutrients.
🐸 New Frog Species Amolops shillong Discovered in Meghalaya
In a well in Shillong, scientist spotted a frog with green patches. On analysing the DNA of the frog, they realised it was a new species – Amolops shillong, or the Shillong cascade frog. The males of this newly discovered frog are 2 inches while females are 3 inches long. Although varying in intensity, the frogs generally have “dark brown” bodies “with mottled fluorescent green patterns” on their sides, researchers said.
Read More: A kingfisher Turns into a Frog in the Western Ghats
🪱 Planarian Flatworm Dugesia punensis Found in Pune
The species is named ‘Dugesia punensis’ and it is a new flatworm that was discovered from Pune’s Pashan Lake. This is the first discovery of a new Indian planarian species in over 40 years. The most remarkable feature of these planarians are their ability to regenerate.
