A new leaftail gecko in the Cape Melville mountain range, in northeastern Australia's Cape York Peninsula.
Still looking for that remote getaway for this Christmas break? Scientists on a joint expedition to the northern tip of Queensland in Australia may have the perfect recommendation.
The researchers discovered in March an isolated “lost world” in a mountain range on Cape York Peninsula, where they’ve identified at least three new vertebrate species, James Cook University announced Monday.
In the boulder-strewn rainforest, the researchers found a new skink (a type of lizard), a frog, and a “highly distinct” gecko up to eight inches long with big eyes adapted to the dark boulder fields.
“The Cape Melville Leaf-Tailed Gecko is the strangest new species to come across my desk in 26 years working as a professional herpetologist,” Patrick Couper, curator of reptiles and frogs at Queensland Museum, said in a statement.
The team, a joint expedition between James Cook University and National Geographic, will document the species in this month’s issues of Zootaza, a peer-reviewed journal for animal taxonomists.
[CNN]