The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri mountain range, is a mountain range that covers an area of 160,000 km2 (62,000 sq mi) in a stretch of 1,600 km (990 mi) parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula, traversing the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world. It is sometimes called the Great Escarpment of India. It contains a very large proportion of the country's flora and fauna, many of which are endemic to this region. The Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas. They influence Indian monsoon weather patterns by intercepting the rain-laden monsoon winds that sweep in from the south-west during late summer. The range runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain called the Western Coastal Plains along the Arabian Sea. A total of 39 areas in the Western Ghats, including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests, were designated as world heritage sites in 2012 – twenty in Kerala, ten in Karnataka, six in Tamil Nadu and four in Maharashtra.
Cnemaspis is a genus of diurnal (day) geckos found in Asia. With over 100 species, it is one of the most diverse genera of geckos. Molecular phylogenies suggest that the two regional groupings may form distinct clades which are not each other's closest relatives.
The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous range of mountains along India's eastern coast. The Eastern Ghats pass through the states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu by, passing parts of Karnataka and Telangana on the way. They are eroded and cut through by four major rivers of peninsular India, viz., the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. Sitamma Konda is the highest point in both Andhra Pradesh and the Eastern Ghats at 1,680 metres (5,510 ft). The Biligiriranga Hills in Karnataka are the tallest hill range in the Eastern Ghats, with many peaks above 1500 m in height.
The Indian day gecko or Nilgiri dwarf gecko is a species of diurnal and insectivorous, rock-dwelling gecko found in the high elevation grasslands and montane forests of the Western Ghats ranges in South India, such as the Nilgiri Hills and the Silent Valley National Park) in Tamil Nadu and Kerala states, respectively.
Cnemaspis otai, also known commonly as Ota's day gecko or the Vellore day gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to southeastern India.
Sirumalai is a region of 60,000 acres (200 km2) situated 25 km (16 mi) from Dindigul, 90 km (56 mi) from Madurai, and 125 km from Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India. There are many high hills in the area. Sirumalai range is the last mountain range of the Eastern Ghats. The last mountains of the Sirumalai mountain range are the Azhagar Kovil Hills which are present in Madurai District. Azhagar Kovil Hills are the most important place of worship for the Hindu religion. Trekking is allowed in the Azhagar Kovil Hills. The nearest Eastern Ghats hills to Sirumalai Hills are the Narthamalai Hills.
Cnemaspis girii, also known as Giri's day gecko, is a species of geckos in the genus Cnemaspis described in 2014. The species, found in the forests of the Kaas plateau in Satara district, Maharashtra, India, was discovered by researchers from Bangalore's National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES). The gecko lives under rocks and hollowed out trees near water bodies within its range.
Cnemaspis flaviventralis is a species of geckos described from the hills of Amboli, Maharashtra, India. Its common name is yellow-bellied day gecko.
Cnemaspis australis, also known as the Southern Travancore day gecko, is a species of gecko endemic to Agasthyamalai Hills of the Southern Western Ghats, in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in South India. It lives in rock boulders and is an evergreen forest dwelling diurnal, insectivorous and oviparous species. This species was previously confused with another gecko Mysore day gecko till a study in 2007 proved it to be a new species.
Ajija's day gecko is a species of gecko found in India.
The Amboli day gecko is a species of gecko found in the India.
Limaye's day gecko is a species of gecko found in India.
Mahabal's day gecko is a species of gecko found in India.
Cnemaspis agarwali is a species of diurnal, rock-dwelling, insectivorous gecko endemic to the Eastern Ghats of India. It is distributed in Sankagiri near Salem District of Tamil Nadu.
Pakkamalai is a mountain and forest reserve in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu, located 45 km southwest of Gingee.
Cnemaspis avasabinae, or Sabin's Nellore dwarf gecko, is a species of gecko endemic to India. It is found in the Eastern Ghats.
Cnemaspis jackieii is a species of diurnal gecko in the family Gekkonidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats in southern India.
Cnemaspis pakkamalaiensis, commonly known as the Pakkamalai dwarf gecko, is a species of dwarf gecko found in Pakkamalai Reserve Forest in Tamil Nadu, India. It is 6.4 cm in length.
Cnemaspis cavernicola, the cave-dwelling dwarf gecko, is a species of dwarf gecko that was found in Pakkamalai Reserve Forest in Tamil Nadu, India. It is a small species, with snout–vent length of 28–34 mm (1.1–1.3 in) and tail length of 24–36 mm (0.94–1.42 in), giving a maximum total length of about 68 mm (2.7 in).
Madurai rock gecko is a rock-dwelling gecko described in 2023 from Nagamalai near Madurai. It belongs to the same genus as house geckos and has distinct characteristics. Members of this genus are usually non-venomous and are harmless to humans. These geckos are nocturnal and prefer rocky areas.
