Smugglers & Poachers

Three people were arrested for trying to smuggle geckos out of New Zealand. (News source.)

Six people were arrested in South Africa for trading in leopard tortoises. (News source.)

Gecko Talent Studied

Researcher have discovered that in order to induce their amazing grip, "geckos must be on an incline in order to trigger the deployment of their adhesive system." (Eurekalert.)

India: New Gecko

A new gecko, Cnemasspis kolhapurensis, has been described from India. (News source and image.)

Biomimicry Fashion

Gecko feet may help design shoes that never wear out, or stilettos with a better grip. (News source.)

New Species

New species described in Zootaxa:

A casque-headed tree frog from Brazil
Two shrub frogs from Sri Lanka
Rediscovery of a toad in Bolivia/Peru
A gecko from the Nicobar Archipelago
A bent-toed gecko from Indonesia
An Atheris viper from Mozambique

Diplodactylus

In the Australian genus of geckos, Diplodactylus, one species has been discovered to be eight separate species from genetic research. (News source.)

New Species from Zootaxa

Some new or redescribed herps from Zootaxa:

A new colubrid from the genus Pareas from China.

An earth-snake (Atractus wagleri) from Colombia is redescribed.

From Guyana comes a new genus and species of lizard (Pantepuisaurus rodriguesi).

A new gecko, Gymnodactylus vanzolinii, is described from Brazil.

Two new agamids (Acanthosaura) are described from Malaysia.

A new microteiid was found in Brazil.

Gecko Pollination Problem

An invasive ant on the island of Mauritius is disrupting the nectar-feeding habits of a native Phelsuma gecko, which is integral to the pollination cycle of a rare plant. (News source.)

Lizard Research

Robo-lizards help researchers studying the communication of anoles in Puerto Rico. (Eurekalert.)

Researchers are investigating speciation in some isolated Australian desert geckos. (News source.)

Galapagos land iguanas are under threat, as some populations show low genetic diversity. (Eurekalert.)

Translocating Geckos

15 Wellington green geckos are being released on the Matiu/Somes Island sanctuary to create a self-sustaining population in a predator-free environment. (News source.)

Two New Geckos

Two new geckos have been found in Australia. (News source.)

New Herps

A few new species from the last month at Zootaxa:

Two new Cyrtodactylus geckos from Vietnam.
A new frog (Oreobates) from the Andes of Argentina.
A new lizard (Arthrosaura) from from Brazil/Guyana.
A new frog (Nyctibatrachus) from India.

Fossil Gecko

A gecko in amber shows the lamellae, or sticky toe-hairs, found in many modern geckos. (News source.)

Lizard News

Islanders are upset that Conservancy control of the Komodo National Park has created situations that endanger the locals. (News source.)

Geckos rely on their tails for mobility. (News source.)

New Species from Vietnam

Two new geckos and a pit viper have been discovered in Vietnam. (News source.)

New Gecko Family

Based on genetic sequencing (rather than the standard foot morphology), researchers have created a new family of geckos. (News source.)

Gecko Tails

Research on house gecko tails shows some interesting new functions, including helping the lizard stabilize while running on slippery surfaces. (News source.)

Gecko-Mimicking Bandages

Some US researchers have devised a waterproof sticky bandage based on principles found in some geckos' sticky feet. (News source.)

Gecko Adhesive

University of California, Berkeley, engineers have designed a gecko-foot mimicking adhesive that is very strong but easy to separate. 42 million tiny hard plastic microfibrils are found on a single square centimeter. It takes hold when it slides down a smooth surface, rather than being pressed against. Two square centimeters can hold .88 lbs. (News source.)

New Geckos

Four new geckos in the genus Cnemaspis have been described from Vietnam. (News source.)

New Gecko

A new gecko from Vietnam has been described: Cyrtodactylus pseudoquadrivirgatus. (News source.)

Gecko Stickiness Research

Research continues into the adhesive properties of gecko feet... (Eurekalert.)

Day Gecko Invasion

The Madagascan day geckos accidentally (or intentionally) released on Mauritius are a threat to that island's native day geckos. Other species are also causing trouble. (News source.)

Gecko Adhesion

Researchers have been studying the gecko's adhesive foot hairs and discovered that the hair's angle is critical. At 30 degrees, it can withstand enormous force, but at 90 degrees, it quickly releases its hold. (News source.)