A new species of lizard, with a tail longer than its body, has been discovered by a group of biologists in Otishi National Park in Cuzco (south-eastern Peru).
The discovery was part of a research study carried out between out in May, looking to contribute to the registration and identification of the diversity of amphibians and reptiles in the area, and was announced by Sernanp, the national agency responsible for conserving protected natural areas on Monday.
"Peru's protected natural areas never cease to amaze us," the agency noted in a press release.
"Otishi National Park celebrated 20 years of conserving the biodiversity of the Cordillera de Vilcabamba and is celebrating by making a great contribution to the world with the discovery of a new species of lizard for science."
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The new species is named "Proctoporus titans", and belongs to the genus Proctoporus, most commonly found in the Andean foothills. The animals are characterised by a tail longer than the body and grey colour, and their ridged dorsal and forehead scales.
It was discovered within a radius of 1.5 km in the high Andean zone of the southern part of the Park, at an altitude of more than 3,200 metres, one of the highest areas of the protected natural area, which can only be accessed by helicopter.
