New gecko species found in PNG

A NEW species of gecko has been discovered in Papua New Guinea, the US Geological Survey announced this week.
The gecko is adorned like a bumblebee, researchers say, with black-and-gold bands that help it to camouflage itself on the tropical fo­rest floor.
It measures about 13cm from head to tail, according to USGS herpetologist Robert Fisher.
“We have officially named it Nactus kunan for its striking colour pattern – kunan means bumblebee in the local Nali language,” Fisher said.
“It belongs to a genus of slender-toed geckos, which means these guys do not have the padded, wall-climbing toes like the common house gecko.”
Fisher found two of the bumblebee geckos in 2010 and analysed their genetics to show that the lizards were indeed new and distinctive species.
The research was done in concert with scientists at the Papua New Guinea National Museum.
It has been an exciting year for lizards and amphibians in Papua New Guinea.
Earlier this year, researchers discovered a tiny frog in Papua New Guinea, which is the smallest known vertebrate species on Earth.