A limbless creature was discovered hidden under rotting leaves within the wilds of Vietnam. This exciting discovery has sparked curiosity and excitement amongst scientists and researchers since it appears to be a very latest species, never before recorded in scientific knowledge.
The research expedition took place in Nui Chua National Park and included three surveys conducted between September 2022 and March 2023. The research focused on the seek for the blind skink, an “elusive” creature. The interesting results of this study were published on December 1 within the journal Zootaxa.
According to phys.org, to search out this unique lizard, researchers first searched for yellow-bellied termites, their favorite food, after which surveyed the world. Digging through leaves, dirt and rotting logs, researchers managed to search out seven blind lizards.
After closer statement, they realized that they’d found a previously unknown species of lizard called Dibamus tropcentr, or the Ninh Thuận blind skink.
According to research, the Ninh Thuận blind skink has a worm-like body that may grow to about 4.6 inches. The study mentioned that their eyes should not fully developed and are covered with scales. Additionally, they haven’t any limbs and only males have hind limbs, which should not fully developed, forming wing-like structures near the tail.
The body color is reddish-brown, the part near the pinnacle is lighter and the part near the tail is darker. Although these lizards resemble earthworms, they’ve smooth and scaly skin.
According to research, Ninh Thuận blind-skinned lizards can often be found digging through the day, especially in areas where yellow-bellied termites live. When picked up or touched, lizards respond by lifting their body scales, a defense mechanism that makes their skin appear barely wrinkled. This behavior mimics the characteristics of worms, that are “likely inedible to some potential predators (cutworms), resembling birds.”
Scientists said the identification of the brand new species was based on observations of scale patterns, body proportions and other physical characteristics. DNA evaluation of the brand new species was not included within the study on account of limited genetic data available for other blind skink species.
The survey results showed that the brand new species was present in two locations in Nui Chua National Park. The park is situated in Ninh Thuận Province, a part of Vietnam’s “driest and driest” region, about 330 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh City.
The common name of this species was chosen on account of the place of discovery, which is Ninh Thuận Province. Meanwhile, its scientific name, tropcentr, refers back to the Vietnam-Russian Tropical Science and Technology Research Center (VRTC). The study shows that VRTC has been engaged in research on “Vietnamese ecology and biodiversity” for greater than 35 years.
More information: NIKITA S. KLIUKIN et al., A brand new species of the genus Dibamus Dumeril & Bibron, 1839 (Squamata: Dibamidae) from the driest and hottest places of Vietnam, Zootax (2023). DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5380.4.1
