This lizard has a long nose, but it doesn't tell lies. Experts believed it was now extinct, but has now been revived in Ecuador. This is the Pinocchio lizard. At least one specimen is still present in the remote forests north-west of Ecuador. This lizard would have a long "nose", which would resemble the famous character of Collodi. Hence its bizarre name.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
This lizard has a long nose, but it doesn't tell lies. Experts believed it was now extinct, but has now been revived in Ecuador. It is about Pinocchio lizard. At least one specimen is still present in the remote forests north-west of Ecuador. This lizard would have a long "nose", which would resemble the famous character of Collodi. Hence its bizarre name.
Second Live Science, from 2005 to today the Pinocchio lizard would have been sighted only three times in the wild. The animal was first identified in 1953, but would later disappear from human sight for 55 years. Experts believed the reptile was now extinct.
The lizard has been spotted again after three years of stalking by researchers and photographers of Tropical Herping, a reality active in ecotourism and environmental education. The authors of the discovery managed to photograph the lizard just along the same path in Ecuador where the reptile had appeared on other occasions.
Regarding the lucky sighting, the photographers pointed out that they are now convinced that the Pinocchio lizard represented only one legendary creature. It is a male specimen, with the characteristic long nose, which is not used for the olfactory functions, but which would constitute a physical characteristic capable of attract female lizards.
photo source: davidixner.com
It is good news that a new specimen has been sighted after a long wait. In fact, it means that the Pinocchio lizard is not completely extinct and that other reptiles of the same species may be present in Ecuador. The Pinocchio lizard was photographed by Alejandro Arteaga, co-founder of Tropical Herping.
Marta Albè
Photo source: livescience.com
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