Leiolepis ngovantrii

Leiolepis ngovantrii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia
Family: Agamidae
Subfamily: Leiolepidinae
Genus: Leiolepis
Species: L. ngovantrii
Binomial name
Leiolepis ngovantrii
Grismer & Grismer, 2010

Leiolepis ngovantrii (Vietnamese: Nhông cát trinh sản, meaning "parthenogenic sand iguana") is a species of lizard that is all female, reproducing clonally.[1][2] The species is named after the herpetologist Ngo Van Tri of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, and is believed to be related to two other Vietnamese lizard species, Leiolepis guttata and Leiolepis guentherpetersi.[3]

Description

L. ngovantrii is known to grow to a length of about 12 centimetres (approx. 5 inches). The lizard's back is covered with brown spots with pairs of yellow stripes running along her sides. Her coloring provides adequate camouflage in coastal sandy soil, as well as the mangrove forests during the dry season when grasses and leaves turn pale yellow.[4]

Scientific discovery

Though the lizard has been long known to and enjoyed by locals in Vietnam's Mekong River Delta, scientists first discovered the species in 2010 after seeing them sold and eaten in many remote Vietnamese village restaurants in Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Province, South Vietnam.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Jesse L. Grismer & L. Lee Grismer (2010). "Who's your mommy? Identifying maternal ancestors of asexual species of Leiolepis Cuvier, 1829 and the description of a new endemic species of asexual Leiolepis Cuvier, 1829 from Southern Vietnam" (PDF). Zootaxa 2433: 47–61.
  2. ↑ Dan Nosowitz (November 9, 2010). "Scientists discover self-cloning lizard species on Vietnamese restaurant menu". Popular Science. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Scientists discover unknown lizard species at lunch buffet (CNN, November 10, 2010)
  4. ↑ Bí ẩn loài nhông cát trinh sản
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