What is Phyllurus fimbriatus?
Phyllurus fimbriatus, a new species of gecko, has been discovered on an uninhabited Queensland Island of Australia. It was found by Associate Professor Conrad Hoskin during a four-day survey of Scawfell Island, about 50 km offshore from Mackay in north Queensland.
What is Phyllurus fimbriatus?
The carnivorous reptile measures about 15 cm in length and has a spiny leaf-shaped tail and a beaky face. The lizard was named the Scawfell Island leaf-tailed gecko due to the fringe of spines around its tail. It has a V-shaped white stripe on its tail which is leaf-like. The newly discovered gecko occupies a total area of less than 1 sq km and is found in the wettest, rainforest-covered, rockiest pockets of Scawfell.
Why are some islands in Australia uninhabited?
As you can see, the Phyllurus fimbriatus was discovered on an uninhabited island. Around 8000 islands in Australia are uninhabited. Some of them have become private properties. Some are undiscovered. None have been isolated for environmental reasons though!
About Queensland Island of Australia
Queensland Island is located in the North Eastern part of Australia. It is the second-largest state and the third-most populous region in Australia. The coral sea and the Pacific Ocean are to the east of Queensland island.
What is Gecko?
Geckos are carnivorous lizards. They are spread all over the world except Antarctica. They are ectothermic. Ectothermic organisms have very less capacity to produce heat. They rely on the external environment to get heat. The geckos need high temperatures for locomotion and reproduction.
What happens after discovering a new species?
Scientists research thoroughly and establish the facts about the new species. They should then present a paper to a scientific journal about their discovery. He should include scientific species descriptions according to the nomenclature codes. There is the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, the International Code of Nomenclature for fungi, algae, and plants, etc. Based on these nomenclature codes, the species description and names are decided.
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Month: Current Affairs - March, 2023
Category: Environment Current Affairs