Global News - September 2007

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New species of lizards discovered in Thailand

Wed 19 September 2007 17:00 UK — Asia

A government researcher has discovered several new species of lizard in forests of northern Thailand.

The Bangkok Post newspaper reports that Piyawan Niyomwan, a researcher for the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP), identified a new species of gecko and skink while carrying out work in the forests of the Chiang Dao mountains in the Chiang Mai province.

The skinks were larger than those typically found in the region and are believed to be members of the Tropidophorus family.

Ms Piyawan is quoted by the paper as adding: "A new species of wild gecko, scientifically called Cyrtodacylus, with its alternated brown and yellow scaling body, was preliminarily confirmed as the world's new gecko species."

However, Ms Piyawan also expressed concern that the new species could be immediately put at risk of extinction as a result of the fierce forest fires which frequently break out in the region.

She said that another team would be sent to the region to try and gather as much information about the new creatures and seek other species.

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