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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The tale of squirrels like Nutkin
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The stylish Spanish shawl
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A seabird gets schooled
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Tom Turkey takes Manhattan
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Strolling across the Red Lagoon
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English National Ballet performing The Nutcracker
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Happy Boxing Day!
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Mountain mists over Bavaria
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On the rebirth of the Olympic Games
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‘Hello’ from zero degrees longitude
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Happy 800th, Salisbury Cathedral
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Too awesome to be a planet
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Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC
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The crossroads of empires
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Fly me to the moon
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The frog prince?
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Yosemite National Park anniversary
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Squirrel Appreciation Day
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Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada
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Whoopin it up!
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The Canary Islands, Spain
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Happy trails for the 21st century
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Fossil Day
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Join the parade for World Elephant Day
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Saint Nicholas Day in Verbier, Switzerland
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Goliath heron in Kruger National Park, South Africa
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Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence
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Happy Father s Day
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Autumnal equinox
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Hezké svátky