The curious case of the Ecuadorian horned anole has fascinated herpetologists, making it an excellent mascot for World Lizard Day. Its story starts in 1953, when a single male specimen of the species was discovered near the Ecuadorian town of Mindo. Over the next 13 years, only a handful of additional Ecuadorian horned anoles were found, all males, and each sporting the same long snout that earned its species the nickname ‘Pinocchio lizard.’ So rare and secretive is this anole, that for the next four decades no more individuals were found, and scientists feared the Pinocchio lizard had gone extinct. It wasn’t spotted again until 2004, when researchers glimpsed a female for the first time. She didn’t have a long snout, leading scientists to believe the male’s sword-like appendage is primarily used in courtship (insert your own joke here).
Lizard of mystery
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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World Rainforest Day
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Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
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Fox kits
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Grand Canyon National Park turns 105
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A unique perspective from Italy’s ‘golden sands’
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Preveli Gorge
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An uncommonly cool critter
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Heavens Gate Cave, Tianmen Mountain National Park, China
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An old celebration for a new season
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Playa del Silencio, Spain
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Honoring the fallen
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How lovely are your branches
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Panda Day
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Sea Slug Day
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Hot and Spicy Food Day
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Happy World Meteorological Day
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A desert arts pop-up, just popped up
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The call of the wild in Alaska
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A festival of lights in India
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Brain coral
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Tintern Abbey, Wales
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It’s World Migratory Bird Day
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Lantern Festival
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A place called ‘Peace’ in India
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GOAL!
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Behold the perfect cone
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Get amped for Glastonbury
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International Lighthouse Weekend
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Once upon a midafternoon dreary…
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Over and under the delta