Tiny lizard thought to be extinct rediscovered after 34 years
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‘Lost’ species rediscovered after more than three decades
- A "lost" lizard species, the Blyde Rondavel flat gecko, has been rediscovered in South Africa's Blyde River Canyon after 34 years.
- It was first identified in 1991, but not seen again. That led to it being thought extinct, as well as its existence as a distinct species being questioned, as some believed it to be a juvenile of another species.
- Researchers from the Endangered Wildlife Trust located and photographed several specimens in April 2025, confirming its distinct species status.
- The development follows other recent rediscoveries by the EWT, including a mole, butterfly, lizard, and frog.
- The collected data, including tissue samples, will help confirm the gecko's unique classification and contribute to its conservation.