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Related: About this forumBeautifully Colored Lizard Discovered In The Peruvian Andes
Beautifully Colored Lizard Discovered In The Peruvian Andes
February 18, 2012
Germán Chávez and Diego Vásquez from the Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad (CORBIDI) in Peru have discovered a new colorful lizard which they named Potamites montanicola, or mountain dweller. The new species was found in Cordillera de Vilcabamba and Apurimac river valley, the Cusco Region of Peru at altitude ranging from 1,600 to 2,100 meters. Their study was published in the open access journal ZooKeys.
The new discovery raises some questions, say the authors. This is the only member of the genus known to live at such altitude. It is yet unknown what biological mechanisms help the lizard to survive in this harsh environment, much colder than what its relatives in the genus prefer. Scientists also believe the lizard may be nocturnal, which raises the question of how it maintains its body temperature during night time. In some cases, individuals were observed swimming in streams, which is rather unusual behavior for the members this genus.
Further studies are needed to reveal its biology, population structure and conservation status, and outline its overall distribution, Chávez concludes.
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112477443/beautifully-colored-lizard-discovered-in-the-peruvian-andes/
yardwork
(61,715 posts)CrispyQ
(36,539 posts)Warpy
(111,380 posts)that have black and cream bodies and an iridescent tail, usually blues and greens, sometimes pale yellow added in. They live out here through really harsh winters (-10 last year) and can be seen sunning themselves on the warmer days.
They are diurnal, though, even in summer. There's no water for them to swim in, so that hasn't been observed, either.
However, they are beautiful creatures.
Solly Mack
(90,791 posts)K&R
Stop n think
(10 posts)Somebody better collect their dna, I gotta feelin the key chain buisness is fixin to take off in Peru.