- Date: November 16, 2016
- Source: Pensoft Publishers
Two new species of lizards have been
discovered in the Andean highlands of Southern Chile. Collected from
areas of heroic past, both small reptiles were named after courages
tribal chiefs who have once fought against colonial Spaniards in the
Arauco war. The study, conducted by a team of Chilean scientists, is
published in the open access journal ZooKeys.
Jaime Troncoso-Palacios from Universidad de Chile and his team found
both new species near a lake in a pre-Andean zone among deciduous
vegetation. Following the examination of the collected specimens and
further analysis of their mitochondrial DNA, performed by Dr. Alvaro A.
Elorza from Universidad Andres Bello, Chile, the scientists concluded
that they belong to species unknown to science.
One of the species, called Liolaemus janequeoae, or, Janequeo`s
Lizard, is distinct for being smaller than its relatives, measuring a
maximum of roughly 7 centimeters at length, as well as having no pattern
on its back. Both features are quite striking for the group of lizards
it belongs to. The only contrasting coloration for the species are
several white scales appearing on the upper side in males. Otherwise,
the species are predominantly light brown with pearly whitish down side
of the body.
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