Creature with ‘large’ mosaic-like eyes found lurking in village. It’s a new species

Way up in the mountains of Tibet, a “slender” creature scaled the wall of a darkened building. Its “large” mosaic-like eyes scanned the sleeping village, but it wasn’t the only one looking around.

Scientists spotted the scaly animal — and discovered a new species.

Researchers visited neighboring villages in Tibet and Sichuan Province, China , in 2020 and 2022 to survey wildlife, according to a study published Oct. 17 in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys. Situated on either side of a river, the villages were nestled in the Hengduan Mountains.

During the nighttime surveys, researchers noticed several unfamiliar-looking lizards on building walls and rocky crevices, the study said. Scientists took a closer look at the animals and quickly realized they’d discovered a new species: Gekko alpinus, or the alpine gecko.

Alpine geckos are considered “moderate”-sized, reaching up to 5.5 inches in length, the study said. They have “slender” bodies with “narrow” heads, “large” eyes and claws.

Photos show the brown speckled body of the new species. Pale gray bands crisscross its back, while its belly has a “creamy white” hue. Overall, the coloring seems to blend in with the surrounding rocks.

Seen up close, the gecko’s eyes are a mosaic-like blend of silver, gold and black, a photo shows.

Alpine geckos live in an “arid” river valley at elevations of about 7,800 to 8,300 feet, the study said. They were often found at night on “dry rocky cliffs,” around shrubs or “on building walls.”

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Researchers said they named the new species after the Latin word “alpinus,” meaning “pertaining to the Alps” or “alpine,” because of its high-elevation mountain habitat.

So far, alpine geckos have only been found in two neighboring counties in Tibet and Sichuan Province, China, the study said. Tibet is an autonomous region controlled by China that borders Bhutan, India, Myanmar and Nepal.

The new species was identified by its DNA, scale pattern, head shape and other subtle physical features, the study said.

The research team included Shun Ma, Sheng-Chao Shi, Cheng Shen, Li-Ming Chang and Jian-Ping Jiang.

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