A lizard species, thought to be extinct, has been found after 42 years. Researchers from the Queensland Museum and experts from James Cook University (both in Australia) set out a search party to find the rare reptile in April, this year. The species named Lyon’s grassland striped skink was last seen in 1981 and has been rediscovered now. The researchers had set up traps on a 5 sq/km area of farmland near Mount Surprise, some 300 km south of Cairns, to see if they could find any of the elusive creatures – as well as two other rare lizards, reported Daily Mail. Dr Andrew Amey from Queensland Museum Network said in an interview that these lizards are hard to find and are seldom seen. “Two are part of a large group of skinks in the genus Lerista, which are only found in Australia and have adapted to sandy soils by reducing their limbs to essentially swim through the soil,” he added.
He also said that it shows that parts of Australia, such as grasslands and open woodland, are grazed by cattle and can still host important biodiversity. Dr Andrew shared that it was an exciting moment to find three reptiles there, but to find Lyon’s Grassland Striped Skink was an incredible discovery.
The small distribution of the reptiles makes them vulnerable to damaging the soil and can help in preventing drought, bushfires, invasive weeds and disease.
The Queensland and Australian Governments recently put Lyon’s Grassland Striped Skink on the list of Critically Endangered Species. The reptile’s body resembles a snake.
Dr Andrew Amey said that animals like these have an important role to play in the ecosystem.
Experts are conducting research to know if these reptiles have a healthy population or if they are declining. They can’t take effective action to protect these animals if they (researchers) don’t know where they live, and what threats are impacting them. The only way they will know about this is to go and look for the reptiles.