Saturday 21 April 2012

New Lizard Species Discovered in Papua New Guinea



A Bumblebee gecko, named Nactus kunan, was discovered by researchers in the tropical forests of Manus Island in Papua New Guinea, according to a report by the US Geological Survey (USGS).




Robert Fisher of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center explained that they “officially named it Nactus kunan for its striking color pattern – kunan means ‘bumblebee’ in the local Nali Language.” He added that Nactus kunan “belongs to a genus of slender-toed geckos, which means these guys don’t have the padded, wall-climbing toes like the common house gecko.”


Reports say that the new gecko species measures about 13 cm long and features black and gold bands similar to a bumblebee. The slender toed lizard is reportedly covered with rows of skin nodules that camouflage itself in the forest.


Two Bumblebee gecko were reportedly collected in March, 2010. Genetics analysis was conducted to determine if these were new species of lizards. 





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