These cute new species share the traditional physical characteristics of a dragon, including rough–scales except for their size. Wood lizards grow to be an average of 3-6 inches long (7 to 15 centimeters).
The three new species were discovered by scientists in cloud forests in the Andes, South America. They were given the names Enyalioides altotambo, Enyalioides anisolepis and Enyalioides sophiarothschildae according to The Market Business.
DNA evidence proved that the lizards belonged to undiscovered species. The species appear different in color, scale shape and size, and DNA from their closest lizard relatives.
Researcher Omar Torres-Cavajal said “That more than half of the diversity of a group of large, dragon-looking reptiles from South America has been discovered in recent years should be heard by people in charge of conservation and funding agencies.”
In 2006 when Dr. Torres-Carvajal started working with woodlizards seven species had been discovered. At the time woodlizards were believed to be one of the lesser varied species of lizards in South America. The number of wood lizard species has doubled.
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