Scientists in Peru identify a new lizard species in the Andes, according to the Natural History Museum of San Marcos University. The discovery is reported as a small-bodied lizard measuring about six to eight centimetres, with coloration that differs between males and females.
Details shared across outlets say females have square-shaped spots on their backs, while males have oblique spots and white scales that help them blend with rocky terrain. The lizard is described as herbivorous and insect-eating, with its diet including plants and small arthropods such as spiders, beetles, true bugs and insect larvae. Researchers report the species is found at elevations above 4,800 metres in Peru’s Arequipa region.
The outlets attribute the work to biologist Ling Huamani-Valderrama, who says describing a new species is important for the country’s biodiversity. Peru’s lizard diversity is cited as roughly 296 species. One outlet also notes that the finding is published in the Swiss journal Diversity, while other context provided by the same outlet references additional recent Peruvian biodiversity discoveries and past palaeontology work.
