Everyone thought this tiny lizard was extinct — then it turned up

August 2, 2024 9:50 PM

Everyone thought this tiny lizard was extinct — then it turned up on Melbourne's fringe. Emi Arnold and Pat Monarca were about to finish work when they spotted a long-lost tiny dragon. Now Zoos Victoria is leading the charge to bring the reptiles back from the brink.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (5 comments total)

Oof. Found it because they were doing an ecological survey before it gets turned into houses. A pretty good argument for building up before we go further out.
posted by freethefeet at 11:31 PM on August 2, 2024 [5 favorites]

Love the contribution of the sniffer dogs! "’The day that Daisy found her first dragon was such an incredible day and then Kip soon backed it up with finding his own within the same week so we were pretty thrilled with both dogs.’”
posted by ourobouros at 3:38 AM on August 3, 2024 [3 favorites]

Squee!

I may have to restrain myself from repeating its systemic name all day, because it's got just the right kind of pleasing cadence that my repetitive vocal tic can't help but groove with: Tympanocryptis pinguicolla
posted by scruss at 6:47 AM on August 3, 2024 [2 favorites]

Heeeeere, leezard leezard leezard...
posted by Artful Codger at 3:45 PM on August 3, 2024

tiny wolf spider hideouts, which the dragons used for shelter

Maybe the wolf spiders are breeding mounts.
posted by Mitheral at 4:47 PM on August 3, 2024 [3 favorites]