Scientists say new species of lizards 'hiding' in Peruvian Andes

SAN MARCOS, Peru, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Scientists in Peru say they've found three new species of lizard "hiding" in plain sight, not identified before because of their similarity to known species.

Researchers at the country's University of San Marcos, working with U.S. colleagues from Brigham Young University, said despite the longtime confusion with other species, the three new species have been tagged using molecular, ecological and more detailed morphological analyses.

Any identification of new species is crucial because it make them "visible" to national and international governments and organizations devoted to biodiversity conservation, the researchers said.

The new species have been named for two different old Andean civilizations, Chavin and Wari, and an Inca ruler, Pachacutec.

Liolaemus pachacutec was found above Písac, an Inca ruin built by Pachacutec. Liolaemus chavin was found in an area close to the center of the Chavin culture, where reptiles and other animals were represented in some remarkable artistic expressions. Liolaemus wari was found close to the center of Wari culture, in the Ayacucho department of southeastern Peru.

A report of the discovery of the new species has been published in the journal Zookeys.