In the mountains of Venezuela, a UTA professor helps discover a new species of tiny gecko

While it remains to be seen if this gecko will endorse any products in the business world, a new species is nonetheless making big news in the science world.

A team of biologists led by University of Texas at Arlington professor Walter E. Schargel, has discovered a new tiny lizard in Venezuela. The species, a member of the gecko family, is about 2.5 inches long and has a cone-shaped head, long snout and a particular skull anatomy.

The species name — Pseudogonatodes fuscofortunatus — reflects the brown coloration of the gecko and the fortunate circumstances of its discovery.

Part of what makes this gecko unique is its distinct skeletal features, including fully separated nasal bones and fused parietal bones — uncommon traits among similar geckos. These characteristics, along with genetic data, distinguish it from other species within the genus.

“The Paria Peninsula, part of the coastal mountain range of Venezuela, has been a hotspot for reptile and amphibian discoveries in recent decades,” said Schargel, the study’s lead author and a professor of biology and earth and environmental sciences at UTA.

The region’s complex geography and climate create diverse habitats that can support a wide range of species, Schargel said. The new species adds to the growing list of reptiles that live only in this area, emphasizing the need for continued exploration and conservation in the region.

“This discovery not only enriches our understanding of the biodiversity in this part of Venezuela, but it underscores the significance of preserving these unique ecosystems,” he said. “I hope this discovery fuels increased conservation measures to protect the habitats of this rare species and other native species in the region.”

The research team included experts from institutions in the U.S., Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela. Their collaboration and combined field observations, museum specimen comparisons, DNA sequencing and advanced imaging techniques led to a comprehensive description of the new species.

The discovery was made during fieldwork in the evergreen forests of the slopes of mountains in the Paria Peninsula, an area in northeastern Venezuela that juts into the Caribbean Sea and is known for its high biodiversity, moderate temperatures and lush vegetation. The researchers collected specimens in 2002 and 2014.

They noted the gecko’s unique skull structure, which led to further investigation.

One of the world’s tiniest lizards

Schargel said the three specimens on which the description was based are in his office on the UTA campus.

“They were brought here by my close Venezuelan collaborator, Dr. Gilson Rivas,” he said.

Do not expect to see them on display in a zoo, he added. Only four specimens have been collected and all will be housed in natural history collections in Venezuela, on loan to UTA for the time being.

While it is one of the world’s smallest lizards, it does not hold the record. That belongs to the Brookesia nana, also known as the nano-chameleon, which is about as big as a sunflower seed.

Schargel said it is believed the newly discovered species is only found in the Paria Peninsula.

“Especially in the tropics, we are far from completing the discovery and inventory of many reptiles and other small animals that are restricted in distribution,” Schargel said. “Many remote areas, like Paria, have been visited by biologists studying diversity only a handful of times. We expect future expeditions to Paria and similar mountainous areas in Venezuela to reveal additional new species of reptiles.

“Dr. Rivas and I are in the process of securing additional funds to go back to Paria eventually produce a complete inventory of the reptiles found in the area. As it turns out, this is the third new species of reptile that we have described from Paria since we started visiting the area in the early 2000s.”

A new mission in West Texas

Closer to home, a group of biologists from UTA are embarking on a study in West Texas that could lead to protection of a lizard family as an endangered species.

In the Chinati Mountains, northwest of Big Bend Ranch State Park, lives a rare lizard commonly known as Dixon’s whiptail. The fast-moving reptile measures about 8 to 12 inches, is gray in color with white or yellow stripes, is most active during the day, and survives on a diet of insects.

It’s also extremely rare — in fact, it might be endangered.

The uncertainty over its status is due to the similarity between the Dixon’s whiptail and a slightly smaller and less rare reptile called the common checkered whiptail. Until now, researchers have been unable to tell if the animals are the same genetically.

The UTA biologists will sample the DNA of the two lizards. If they prove to be different species, Dixon’s whiptail may be eligible for protection as an endangered species.

“It’s not easy to catch them. They’re all female, blend in well to their surroundings, and are very fast. We will rely on lizard lassos — basically fishing poles with tiny lassos on the top — and sticky traps to catch animals for sampling their DNA,” said Corey Roelke, a biology professor at UTA. He and biology professor Matthew Fujita are the lead investigators on the project.

Once the team obtains genetic samples from both lizards, they will analyze them using a variety of genetic sequencing tools, including UTA’s new next-generation genetic sequencer. The researchers will also compare these current samples to previously sequenced samples from these lizards.

The team plans to start their project in January with the goal of wrapping up their findings by the end of the year.