A new lizard species in Ratanak Kiri province
A new species of lizard with striking iridescent rainbow skin, a long tail and very short legs has been discovered in the rainforest in northeast Cambodia, conservationists
announced Wednesday.
Scientists named the skink Lygosoma veunsaiensis to honour the Veun Sai-Siem Pang Conservation Area in Rattanakiri province where it was found, Conservation International (CI) said in a statement.
The lizard was discovered in 2010 in the remote and little-explored rainforest area during biological surveys led by Fauna & Flora International (FFI) in partnership with CI, the group said.
\"These creatures are difficult to find because they spend so much of their life underground\', said Neang Thy, a Cambodian national working for FFI and the first herpetologist to see the new skink.
\"Some similar species are known from only a few individuals. We were very lucky to find this one,\" said Neang Thy.
The new species is unusual because it has very short limbs and a tail that is much longer than its main body. Its skin has a refracting quality to the scales that creates a rainbow-like effect in sunlight, the group said.
The lizard was the third new species in the last two years to be found in Veun Sai, following the discovery of a new type of bat and a gibbon.
GMT 09:00 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
Hong Kong engulfed in smogGMT 06:52 2018 Friday ,19 January
Six dead as huge storms batter EuropeGMT 07:02 2018 Thursday ,18 January
China says Iranian oil tanker wreck locatedGMT 07:46 2018 Tuesday ,16 January
Philippines' Mayon volcano alert raisedGMT 08:14 2018 Sunday ,14 January
Fossil fuels blown away by windGMT 10:36 2018 Friday ,12 January
Race to save Indonesian croc strickenGMT 08:07 2018 Wednesday ,10 January
Philippines to protest over China activityGMT 08:56 2018 Tuesday ,09 January
Bacteria makes blue jeans greenMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©