Scientists spot ‘reddish’ eyes in the night — and discover adorably small new species
Equipped with headlamps, scientists ventured into a darkened canyon valley in Central Asia. As they searched the rocky landscape, they spotted some “reddish” eyes — and discovered two new species.
Researchers set out to survey the native reptiles of the Fergana Valley, according to a study published Aug. 4 in the journal Animals. They wanted to assess the animal populations because agricultural development had expanded into the valley.
The survey spanned about 125 miles of land over three years and involved daytime and nighttime excursions, the study said. Tucked in the valley canyons, researchers found several tiny lizards — including two new species of even-fingered gecko.
A photo shows the two new species perched side-by-side on a researcher’s hand. Co-author Jesse Grismer described the animals as “super cute,” according to a post on Twitter, now rebranded as X.
The first new species was named Alsophylax ferganensis, or the Fergana even-fingered gecko, researchers said. It can reach about 2.6 inches in size and has a “light beige” coloring with “dark brown bands.”
The Fergana even-fingered gecko has a “teardrop shaped head” and smooth body, the study said. It was found along the sides and floor of a canyon. The gecko is “probably” only found in a “small mountain range.”
The new species was named after the area where it was discovered. The Fergana Valley stretches across Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and has been subject to complicated border disputes. Both new species were found in a part of the valley controlled by Uzbekistan.
The second new species was named Alsophylax emilia, or Emilia’s even-fingered gecko, researchers said. This lizard has a beige body with smudgy brown bands and can reach about 2.9 inches in size. A photo shows the gecko perched on someone’s fingers.
Emilia’s even-fingered gecko has a “relatively large” head and spikes along its back. It was found in severalareas with canyons and sparse, shrub-like vegetation, the study said.
Researchers named the species after Emilia V. Vashetko, a herpetologist who lived from 1940 to 2022. Vashetko made “great contributions to the study of the herpetofauna” — local reptiles and amphibians — “of Uzbekistan and surrounding countries.”
Both lizards were identified as new species based on their body shape, scale patterns and DNA, the study said.
The research team included Roman Nazarov, Timur Abduraupov, Evgeniya Shepelya, Mariya Gritsina, Daniel Melnikov, Matthew Buehler, Jack Lapin, Nikolay Poyarkov and Jesse Grismer.
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