New Gecko Species Named After Vincent Van Gogh for Its 'Starry Night' Resemblance

The discovery in Tamil Nadu, India, highlights the region's rich biodiversity and pays homage to the iconic Dutch painter.

A team of scientists in Tamil Nadu, India, discovered a new gecko species, Cnemaspis vangoghi, named for its resemblance to Van Gogh's 'Starry Night'.
The male Cnemaspis vangoghi exhibits a unique pattern of greyish-blue dots and a hint of yellow, mimicking the famous painting.
Another species, Cnemaspis sathuragiriensis, was also discovered and named after the Sathuragiri Hills.
The discoveries underline Tamil Nadu's exceptional biodiversity, with researchers expecting to name over 50 new lizard species.
The Van Gogh gecko has sparked creativity, with artists drawing comparisons and celebrating the intersection of art and science.