A Pinocchio Lizard, or Anolis proboscis, was spotted by a team of Ecuadorian biologists for just the third time in the last 15 years. Researchers from reptiles and amphibians advocacy group Tropical Herping documented and photographed the long-nosed lizard in January of this year.
Paolo Escobar, Lucas Bustamante, Diana Troya and Alejandro Arteaga were part of the team that rediscovered the Pinocchio Lizard. Although it might seem counter-intuitive, the team searched for the lizards at night because they are easier to spot after dark. Their effective daytime camouflage is exposed at night because they turn a pale, white color when lit with a headlamp.