Sydney, Dec 31 (IANS): A lizard species that weighs barely 16 gram and has remained practically unchanged for the past six million years has been found in Australia, a media report said Wednesday.
Scientists discovered the world's smallest goanna lizard in Australia's Kimberley region.
The new species grows to just 23 cm and weighs only 16 gm, while other goanna species can grow to over three metres in length.
The Dampier Peninsula goanna, or Varanus Sparnus, is the 26th goanna species identified in Australia and the 1,001st overall reptile species, Xinhua reported.
Scientists believe it has remained unchanged for over six million years.