Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Environment → Animals

Rare long-nozed Pinocchio lizard discovered in Ecuador

Tibi Puiu by Tibi Puiu
October 7, 2013
in Animals, Biology, Discoveries

pinocchio-lizard
Alejandro Arteaga / Tropical Herping

A rare sight to behold, the elusive Pinocchio lizard was finally spotted after a team of researchers and photographers set on a long quest to find it. Their efforts were rewarded as this is only the third time a specimen of this long-nosed lizard was ever reported in nearly the 60 years since its discovery.

Called the Pinocchio anole (type of lizard), the animal was first discovered in 1953. It was only seen again once  more than 50 years afterwards in 2005, leading many to believe the species was extinct.  Alejandro Arteaga, a co-founder of the educational and ecotourism company Tropical Herping, and colleagues were writing a book called “The Amphibians and Reptiles of Mindo,” a rural region a two-hour drive north of Quito, Ecuador’s capital, and didn’t want to settle with the extinction claim. They wanted a complete illustration for their book, so the team set out to find the lizard.

Lucas Bustamante / Tropical Herping
Lucas Bustamante / Tropical Herping

Night time is always the best time to go lizard hunting, since that’s when most animals are asleep and their pale colouring makes them inconspicuous while they go about their nocturnal ways.  After many days of stalking, one of Arteaga’s colleagues spotted and captured a Pinocchio anole clinging to a branch over a stream in January. The team then kept it overnight before photographing it in the morning in its natural habitat for their book.

Though definitely not extinct, the Pinocchio anole is by all means endangered, fact attested by its scarce sightings. In fact,  these lizards have been found in only four locations, mostly along a single stretch of road – one of the smallest ranges of any lizard in the world, Arteaga said.

Clearly its name was given thanks to the lizard’s uncanny resemblance to a certain lying wooden puppet. You might be wondering what’s its purpose? From a practical point of view, none – it’s just used to court ladies. Females don’t have long noses, and clearly this is a sexually selected trait – the male with the longest nose is the most attractive to females and thus has the most chances to pass on its genes. The peacock is the most famous co-example of such behaviour fond in nature, only instead of a long nose the peacocks employ marvelously coloured plumage.

Was this helpful?


Thanks for your feedback!

Related posts:
  1. Ecuador To World: Pay Up To Save The Rainforest. World To Ecuador: Meh.
  2. New tectonic plate discovered off the cost of Ecuador
  3. Who was the Basilosaurus, the ‘king lizard’ that was neither king nor lizard?
  4. Meet ‘Pinocchio rex’ – the 9 meter long, ferocious cousin of Tyrannosaurus Rex
  5. 24 new lizard species discovered in the Caribbean – already faced with extinction
Tags: anolendangered specieslizardpinocchio lizard

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW