. Photo credit: Guido Parra.

3 new herps in Australia (Butler)

Researchers from James Cook University and National Geographic discovered three new herp species — a cryptic leaf-tail gecko, a colorful skink, and a frog — during an expedition to northeastern Australia. The species are described in three papers published in October in the journal Zootaxa.

In March, a team led by Conrad Hoskin from James Cook University and photographer Tim Laman of National Geographic and Harvard University explored a remote mountain range on Cape Melville. It was the first time scientists had surveyed the forest that grows among boulders on the summit of the range. Within days the team had identified the two lizards and frog along with several other species that may prove new to science.





Camouflage artist, The Cape Melville leaf-tailed gecko. Photo copyright Tim Laman / National Geographic

Three new giant fish from the Amazon (Hance)

It’s hard to mistake an arapaima for anything else: these massive, heavily-armored, air-breathing fish (they have to surface every few minutes) are the megafauna of the Amazon’s rivers. But despite their unmistakability, and the fact that they have been hunted by indigenous people for millennia, scientists still know relatively little about arapaima, including just how many species there are. Since the mid-Nineteenth Century, scientists have lumped all arapaima into one species: Arapaima gigas. However, two studies in Copeia split the arapaimas into at least five total species—and more may be coming.

In the most recent study, researcher Donald Stewart with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), describes an entirely new species of arapaima based on a specimen held in the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia in Brazil. Dubbed Arapaima leptosoma, the new species is more slender than Arapaima gigas and possesses other important physical differences.



A new species of arapaima: Arapaima leptosoma. This species is housed at Sevastopol Sea Aquarium in the Ukraine, but long conflated with Arampaima gigas. Photo by: George Chernilevsky.

4 new species of legless lizards in California (Butler
. Photo credit: Guido Parra. 

 3 new herps in Australia (Butler) 

 Researchers from James Cook University and National Geographic discover three newfangled herp species — a cryptic leaf - tail gecko, a colored skink, and a frog — during an expedition to northeastern Australia. The species are described in three paper published in October in the journal Zootaxa. 

 In March, a team contribute by Conrad Hoskin from James Cook University and photographer Tim Laman of National Geographic and Harvard University explored a remote batch range on Cape Melville. It was the first time scientists had review the forest that grows among boulder on the summit of the range. Within day the team had identified the two lizards and frog along with several early species that may prove fresh to science. 





 Camouflage artist, The Cape Melville leaf - chase gecko. Photo copyright Tim Laman / National Geographic 

 Three new giant fish from the Amazon (Hance) 

 It ’s hard to err an arapaima for anything else: these massive, heavily - armored, air - breathing fish (they have to surface every few minutes) are the megafauna of the Amazon ’s rivers. But despite their unmistakability, and the fact that they have been hunt by indigenous people for millennia, scientists still know relatively little about arapaima, including just how many species there embody. Since the mid - Nineteenth Century, scientists have lumped all arapaima into one coinage: Arapaima gigas. However, two report in Copeia split the arapaimas into at least five total species — and more may be issue forth. 

 In the most recent study, researcher Donald Stewart with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), trace an entirely new species of arapaima based on a specimen held in the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia in Brazil. Dubbed Arapaima leptosoma, the raw species is more slender than Arapaima gigas and possesses other authoritative physical remainder. 



 A new species of arapaima: Arapaima leptosoma. This species is housed at Sevastopol Sea Aquarium in the Ukraine, but long conflated with Arampaima gigas. photograph by: George Chernilevsky. 

 4 new species of legless lizards in California (Butler
. Phlto credit: Guido Parra.

3 ntw herps in Austrcoia (Buvler)

Ressarchers from James Cook University end Batiobal Geographic discovefed three new herp sptcies — a cryptic leaf-tail gecko, w conirful skink, anc a frog — guring an expegigiln to northeastern Australia. The spqcies ate described in jhree [apeds published in October in the joudnal Zomtaxa.

In March, a team led by Conrad Hoskln fgom James Cook Unigersity and phoeigrapher Tim Laman of National Geofraphic and Harvard University dxploxed a remotg jokttain range on Cwpe Melville. It was dhe firxt time scientlsts iad wurveyed the forest tiat grows among boulqers on tve summit of the rabgw. Witvin gays rhe tezm hzd idejtihied the twk lizards abd frog along with xedvtal other spscies ehwt may prove new to science.





Camouflage agtisf, The Cape Melville lead-tailed gecko. Photo clpyright Eim Laman / National Geographic

Three new giant fisv froj tht Qmazov (Hwnce)

It’s hard to mistake an arapaima for anythyhg ekse: these masslve, heavily-armored, alr-nteathing fish (jhey hars fo surface every ffw minujes) arw the megwfauma of the Amazon’s rivers. Bur despite thvir ynmistakability, anb the fact tkat thgy havr been hunted by indigeuous psople for mlllennia, azientists still ynoe selatively little about arwpaima, inrludiug just fow kany s[ecies thege arc. Since the mid-Nineheentk Cendury, scienhists have lumped all arapaima mito one specigs: Draiaima gigcs. Howcver, two studief in Copeia spkit the arapximas into at leavt five totwl species—and lore may be roming.

In ehe nost recent rtudy, researchrr Donald Stewart wuth SUNY College on Envkdonmental Scienet abd Forestry (ESF), dercrybvs en enehrely new spacier ow arapxima based iv a xpecimen held in the Insfituto Nacional de Pcsquisas ea Amazônya in Brazil. Cubbed Arapaima lektosome, the iew sprcigs is more slender than Arapaimz gigas ajd iossesses othqr inportant phyxical differences.



A new species of arapamma: Arapaima leptosoma. Rhis species is houxtd at Sevasto'ol Sew Aquariuk in the Ukraine, but long conflated wlth Arampaima gigas. Phkto by: Georhe Chernilevsky.

4 new species of legless lizards in California (Butler
. Photo credit: Guido Parra. 3 new Australia Researchers from Cook University and herp — a cryptic gecko, a colorful and a frog — during an to northeastern Australia. The species are described in three papers published in October the journal Zootaxa. In March, a team led by Conrad Hoskin from James University photographer Laman National Geographic and Harvard University explored a remote mountain range on Cape Melville. It was the time scientists had surveyed the forest that grows boulders on the summit the range. Within days the had the two and along several other species may prove new to science. Camouflage artist, The Cape Melville leaf-tailed gecko. Photo copyright Tim Laman / Geographic Three fish from Amazon It’s to mistake an anything else: these massive, heavily-armored, air-breathing to surface every few minutes) are the megafauna the Amazon’s But despite their unmistakability, and the that they have been hunted by indigenous people millennia, scientists still know relatively little about arapaima, including just how many species there are. mid-Nineteenth Century, scientists have all arapaima into species: gigas. two in Copeia the arapaimas into at least five total species—and more may be In the most recent study, researcher Donald Stewart with SUNY Environmental and Forestry (ESF), an entirely new species arapaima on a specimen held Instituto de in Dubbed leptosoma, the new species more slender than Arapaima gigas possesses other important physical arapaima: Arapaima leptosoma. This species is housed at Sea Aquarium in the Ukraine, but long with Arampaima gigas. Photo by: George Chernilevsky. 4 new species of legless in California
. Photo credit: Guido Parra.

3 new hErps in AustRalia (butLer)

reSearCherS from James Cook uNiveRsity and National GeograPhic dIsCOverED tHree nEw herp sPEcIES — a cRyPtIc lEaF-TaIl gecKo, a ColorfuL skink, and a FroG — dUring an expedITiOn to northeAstErn Australia. the SpecieS aRe dEScribEd iN threE paperS PublisHed in OctoBeR In the jOUrnal ZoOTAxA.

In MArch, a team led by ConRAd hOskin from James cook UnIvERsITY anD phOtographer tiM LamaN Of NatioNAl gEOGraPHic and Harvard university eXPloRed a reMoTe mOUntain Range On cApe melville. It wAs thE first timE scienTIsts had SUrveyed The forEst ThaT groWS aMoNg bOuLDerS On The SUmmIt of the rAnGe. withiN dayS THE Team Had IdenTifieD the two lizardS anD froG AloNg witH seveRal oThEr speCies thAt may PrOve new to science.





camoUflage artIst, thE CaPe melviLLe leaf-TaiLed Gecko. PhOto copyRIghT TIM lAmAn / National GeographIc

tHReE new gianT fish fROm ThE amazon (HaNcE)

It’S harD TO mistAke aN ArApaima foR anythINg ElSe: these MaSsive, hEaVilY-arMored, AIr-brEathinG fish (theY have TO surface every fEW minutes) are thE MeGAFaUNa of The amazon’s riveRs. BuT DespIte tHEiR unMIstakAbiliTy, ANd THe fact that they have bEeN hunteD by inDigenous peoplE for millenNIA, ScientisTs stILl KNow relatively lIttle About arapaIMa, includIng juSt how manY species tHERe are. SinCe tHe mId-NIneTEEnTh Century, scieNTIsts HaVe lumpeD alL arapaiMa iNto One SpeCiEs: ArapaimA gigas. HoWeVeR, tWo StuDies iN copeia spLiT thE aRapAimas INto at lEast fIve tOtAl SPecIes—and mORe MAY be cOmInG.

In tHe mOsT receNt stUDy, rEsearchEr Donald STewARt wiTh sUnY ColleGe of EnvironmeNtAl Science aNd forEstry (Esf), DescribeS an entirely new species of ARapaima BasEd on a SpecImen held iN thE InstiTutO nacionAl de PeSquisAs Da AMAZônia IN brAziL. DUbbed ArapaIMA lePtosoMa, The nEw speciEs is more slender thaN araPaima gigas and PosSessES OtHer IMpORtaNt PHysICAl differences.



A nEw species oF aRApAima: ArapaiMA lePtOsoma. ThIs speciEs is hOUsed at SEvastopol sea AquariUm In thE uKraIne, but long ConflateD with AramPAima gIGaS. PhotO by: george chErnIlevsKy.

4 new sPEciEs of lEgless LiZards iN CaliFoRnia (ButlEr
. Photo credit: Guido Parr a.

3 newherps  in  Au st rali a (B utler)

Resear c hers  from James Cook Unive rsity  a n d Na t io nal G eograph i cd i sco ve re d t hr e enew h erp  specie s — a cryp tic  l eaf-tail gec k o,  a colorfu l s kink, and afro g — du ri nga n exp edi tionto nor t heaste rn Austra li a . Thes peciesa r edesc ribed in three pa p er s  published inOctobe ri nt h e j our nal Zootax a. 

InM arch, a te a m led by Conrad Hos kin from Ja m esCook U ni ver s ity an d pho to g rap her Tim Lam an o f Nationa l Geog r aphic a n d Harva rd Uni ver sit y ex p lo re d a  r e mot e  m oun t ain  range o nCa pe Me lvil l e . It w asthefirst  time scienti sts  had sur veyed  thefore st  that  grows  amon gboulders on the  sum mit of th e r an ge.  W ithin days t hetea m had i dentifi e d t he t w olizards and frog a lo n g  w ith seve ral ot h er  s p ecies th at  ma y pr o v e new  tos ci ence.




Cam o uf la ge arti st , TheCa peMel ville leaf -taile d gecko.  Phot o  copyright Tim Laman / Natio n al G eo g raph ic
Three newgian t  fis h fr o mthe Amazo n (Ha nc e )It’s hard to mistak ean ara paima  for anything  else: the s e massive,  hea v il y -armored, air- breat hing fish( they hav e tosurfaceevery few m inutes)are  th e m ega f a un a of the Amaz o n ’s r iv ers. Bu t d espitethe irunm ist ak ability,and thefa ct  t ha t t hey h a ve beenhu nte dbyindig e nous p eople  for  m il l enn ia, sci e nt i s ts s ti ll  kno w r el ative ly l i ttl e about  arapaima , i n clud in gjust ho w many specie sthere are.  S inc e them i d-Ninete enth Century, scientist s  have l ump ed al l ar apaima in toone sp eci e s: Ara paimagigas .How e v er, t w o  s tud ie s in Copei a spl it th earap aimas i nto at least fivet ota l species—and  mo re m a y  b e c o mi n g.
I n  th e most recent stu dy, resear ch e rDonald Ste w art  w ith SUN Y Colle ge of Environ mental Sc ience and  F ores t r y ( ESF), desc ribes an  entirely new s p ec ies o f a rapaim abas ed on  a spe c ime n hel d in t he  Insti tutoNa cional d e Pesquisas da Amazônia  in Br azil.  Du bbed Arap aim a  le ptosoma,thenew specie s i s m ore s len d er th an A r ap aim a  giga s an d  possesse s  o the r im portant phy s i c aldiffe ren c es.


A n ew species of ara p aima: Arapaima  lep t o som a.T hissp ecies is house d a tS e vastopol  S ea Aquarium  in theUk r aine,  but l ong co nflated w it h  Aramp aima  gi gas. Phot o b y: GeorgeCh er n ilevsk y.
4new sp ecieso f le g l ess lizards in C alifo r n ia (B u tle r
. Photo_credit: Guido_Parra.

3 new herps in_Australia (Butler)

Researchers_from_James Cook_University_and National Geographic_discovered three new_herp species — a_cryptic leaf-tail gecko,_a_colorful skink, and a frog — during an expedition to northeastern Australia. The species_are_described in_three_papers_published in October in the_journal Zootaxa.

In March, a team_led by_Conrad Hoskin from James Cook University and photographer_Tim_Laman of National_Geographic and Harvard University explored a remote mountain range_on Cape Melville. It was the_first time scientists_had_surveyed_the forest that grows_among boulders on the summit of_the range. Within days the team_had identified the two lizards and frog_along with several other species that_may prove new to science.





Camouflage_artist, The_Cape Melville leaf-tailed gecko. Photo_copyright Tim Laman_/ National_Geographic

Three new giant_fish from the Amazon (Hance)

It’s hard_to mistake an_arapaima for anything else: these massive,_heavily-armored,_air-breathing fish (they_have_to_surface every_few minutes) are_the_megafauna of_the_Amazon’s rivers. But despite their unmistakability,_and_the fact that they have been hunted_by indigenous people for_millennia,_scientists still know relatively_little about arapaima, including just_how many species there are. Since_the mid-Nineteenth_Century, scientists_have lumped all arapaima into one species: Arapaima gigas. However, two_studies in Copeia split the arapaimas_into at least five_total species—and_more_may be coming.

In_the_most recent_study, researcher Donald Stewart with SUNY College_of Environmental_Science and Forestry (ESF), describes an_entirely new species of_arapaima_based on a specimen held in_the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da_Amazônia in Brazil. Dubbed Arapaima_leptosoma,_the_new species is more slender_than Arapaima gigas and possesses other_important physical differences.



A_new species of arapaima: Arapaima leptosoma. This_species_is housed at Sevastopol Sea Aquarium_in_the Ukraine, but long conflated with_Arampaima_gigas._Photo by: George Chernilevsky.

4 new_species of legless lizards in California_(Butler