Scientists in Australia were able to find and identify a new gecko species that has unique psychedelic eyes. It has stayed undetected until this point due to its striking similarities with a different gecko species that it is closely related to.
A Different Gecko Species
Live Science reports that the new gecko species has been named lesser thorn-tailed gecko, or Strophurus spinula. Spinula is Latin for "little thorn" and was chosen due to the creature's relatively tiny tail spines.
Previously, this new gecko species was thought to be under the S. assimilis species. However, upon conducting vast genetic analysis of the genus, the researchers were able to discover this new species.
Closer investigations revealed that the species could be physically differentiated from the S. assimilis and other geckos with spiny tails. This is due to the new gecko species' spines, which were unevenly spaced and unusually straight.
The Miami Herald adds that DNA analysis showed that the new species was genetically distinct, with 8% to 16% genetic variations from other kinds of geckos.
The analysis also showed that even if the lesser thorn-tailed gecko looked similar to the S. assimils species, the former was actually more related to the eastern spiny-tailed gecko, the Exmouth spiny-tailed gecko, and the soft spiny-tailed gecko.
Similar to all other spiny-tailed geckos, the S. spinula is capable of secreting a foul-smelling and harmless chemical from its glands close to its tail. This chemical is secreted to potentially deter birds from landing on shrubberies, where attacks typically originate from.
Verrry similar to the closely related Strophurus assimilis, this is to look for:
— Ian Brennan (@ian_g_brennan) May 10, 2023
1. spines that decrease in size towards the end of the tail see pic1 (not increase like in assimilis - pic2)
2. straight but discontinuous row of dorsolateral spines (not wavy like assimilis - pic3) pic.twitter.com/3f8HhidB84
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Lesser Thorn-Tailed Gecko
🚨 NEW SPECIES ALERT 🚨
— Ian Brennan (@ian_g_brennan) May 10, 2023
Next time you find yourself wandering the mulga woodlands of Western Australia, staring into the psychedelic eyes of one of Australia’s amazing spiny-tailed geckos…
1/4 pic.twitter.com/bGKlMxHG2r
Photos of the unique gecko show that it has a light-gray hue coating its body. Brown speckles can also be found covering it, while lighter brown spines run along its neck down to its tail tip.
Study co-author Ian Brennan explains that the creature had psychedelic eyes. The photos also reveal that it has vertical pupils and gray irises that are mosaic-like and an outer ring that is brown-gold. Night photos also reveal that the species can blend exceptionally well with the surrounding branches.
… consider that you might be locking peepers 👀 with the new-to-science Strophurus spinula. The one and only ‘little thorn’!
— Ian Brennan (@ian_g_brennan) May 10, 2023
Link here: https://t.co/3h1GI7okIT
2/4 pic.twitter.com/jhAlmfQdla
Its length is roughly 2.4 inches, while gray and white scales make up a pattern over it. This same pattern appears to be reflected in its eyes as well. The neck gecko species was detailed further in the Records of the Western Australian Museum.
According to the Miami Herald, several specimens were found hidden in shrublands, trees, and open rocky terrains. There were roughly 40 collected specimens taken from mulga woodlands in Western Australia.
Live Science adds that this gecko apparently prefers woodlands that are filled with mulga trees, which grow in arid conditions. The researchers now want to dig deeper into why this gecko prefers such a kind of habitat.
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