Assalammualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu "NEW GECKO SPECIES FROM RANAH MINANG" Congratulations and Success to Mr. Our Lecturer Fitra Arya Dwi Nugraha, M.Sc., for his achievements in researching Biodiversity in West Sumatra. A spiky creature found clinging to a village wall in Indonesia turns out to be a new species Researchers spent two years surveying wildlife in West Sumatra, according to a study published July 6 in the journal ZooKeys. While exploring the village and lowland forest, they spot a "common but neglected" lizard. They found 16 of these lizards clinging to village walls, sheet metal, tree trunks and branches at night, the study said. Taking a closer look, the researchers realized they had discovered a new species: Cyrtodactylus gonjong, or Gonjong's crooked toe gecko. Reaching a size of about 5.6 inches, the Gonjong's hook-footed gecko has a "slim" body and a "ringed" tail, the researchers said. Its head has a "triangular shape" and a pointed protrusion along its back. The gonjong crooked toe gecko is named after "a typical house roof style in West Sumatra made by its ethnic people," said the Minang people, researchers said. This “unique style of roof shape” is known as “gonjong” and is “inspired by the horns of the buffalo, the most revered animal in Minang ethnology”. The gonjong roof has "become a symbol used by the Minang people to show their ethnic identity," said the study. Researchers chose this name for the new species "out of respect for the Minang people because they were very helpful during our research." The new species were recognized as distinct based on size, scale pattern, body coloration and DNA analysis. The research team consisted of Fitra Arya Dwi Nugraha, Yuni Ahda, Djong Hon Tjong, Nia Kurniawan, Awal Riyanto, Muhammad Alif Fauzi and Si-Min Lin. Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article277096558.html#storylink=cpy News Maker : Afifatul Achyar, M.Si. News Editor : Yusni Atifah, M.Si. Website Admin : Threo W. Marten, S.Si.