Overview
- Specimens were found under tree bark in a sandalwood plantation within the Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve at about 881 meters elevation.
- Molecular analyses show 9.7–12.9% genetic divergence from close peninsular relatives, supporting recognition as a distinct species.
- Diagnostic features include 12–16 chin scales, 6–8 pre-cloacal pores, 5–7 femoral pores separated by poreless scales, and a 2–2–2–2 lamellar pattern.
- The description is published in Herpetozoa through a collaboration between ZSI units in Hyderabad and Kolkata and Fakir Mohan University.
- ZSI Director Dhriti Banerjee notes this is only the second Hemiphyllodactylus reported from Andhra Pradesh, reinforcing the need for continued exploration in the Eastern Ghats.