Efforts to save the rare 'Pinocchio lizard' which was once thought extinct

Date:

April 2, 2015

Source:

Virginia Tech

Summary:

A long lizard nose is an important part of their social interactions and a unique aspect of the natural history of this remarkable lizard. Scientists say the more they know about its behavior, the better the chances they have to save it.

Continued ...

Pinocchio lizard rediscovered? Or just good PR?

Pinocchio lizard rediscovered - Again.

October 2013. The Pinocchio lizard (Anolis proboscis) was first recognised by science in 1953, but was not seen again for some 50 years, prompting some to think it had become extinct. However it was found again in 2005, and has been recorded several times since, and was even the subject of a scientific paper in 2010 (read here). 

Rediscovered?

So what has prompted the recent rash of headlines about the rediscovery of a lizard that was ‘rediscovered' 8 years ago? 

The latest rediscovery was during an expedition run by Tropical Herping, a tour company that specialises in running herpetological tours to Ecuador. The news of the rediscovery has been carried by many newspapers and website, including Livescience & the Huffington Post, but we are perplexed as to why it is such big news, when the lizard has been recorded several times in the last 8 years.

Could it be that Tropical Herping has a particularly good PR company?

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/pinocchio-lizard.html