Scientists working in northern Australia have identified a previously unknown species of slider skink in the Gulf of Carpentaria, a region that has received relatively little biological study compared with other parts of the country. The discovery adds to growing evidence that large parts of Australia’s tropical north still hold undocumented wildlife. The small lizard, found during surveys a decade apart, belongs to a group known for subtle physical differences and highly local ranges. Researchers say the find underlines the importance of long term fieldwork in remote landscapes, where rare species can easily be overlooked. It also draws attention to conservation areas that quietly protect biodiversity without drawing much public notice. Even now, some species remain known from only a handful of encounters.
Hidden in the sand: Australian lizard was found just twice, ten years apart
The new species has been named Lerista munuwajarlu, drawing on the Garrwa language, with munuwa meaning ‘no’ and jarlu meaning ‘arm’. The name reflects the skink’s reduced limbs, a common feature in slider skinks. Its common name is the Gulf Coastal Slider.Both known individuals were found at the Pungalina Seven Emu Wildlife Sanctuary in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The sanctuary sits on Yanyuwa and Waanyi Garawa country and is managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. The two specimens were collected ten years apart, highlighting how rarely the animal is encountered.
Why the Gulf of Carpentaria remains poorly studied
Compared with Cape York, the Top End or the Kimberley, the Gulf of Carpentaria has seen far less scientific surveying. Access is difficult, distances are large, and many habitats are remote from major research centres. As a result, even small reptiles that live beneath the sand can escape notice for decades.Dr Eridani Mulder from the Australian Wildlife Conservancy said that every new record helps fill gaps in knowledge. He noted that even inconspicuous species play a role in understanding how northern ecosystems function and change over time.
A decade between sightings
The first specimen of Lerista munuwajarlu was collected in 2012 during a broad fauna survey carried out by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, CSIRO and the Royal Geographical Society of Queensland. Researchers noticed its unusual features, including two toes on each hind limb and a faint stripe along its upper sides.At the time, scientists suspected it might represent an undescribed species. Targeted searches followed, but no further individuals were found. For years, the skink remained a possibility rather than a confirmed discovery.
Genetic work confirms a new species
In 2022, researchers from the Australian National University returned to Pungalina Seven Emu for further surveys. During this work, they located a second individual of the skink. Genetic analysis later confirmed that it was distinct from other known species, although closely related to other Lerista skinks found across northern and eastern Australia.This combination of physical traits and genetic data allowed scientists to formally describe the species, even though only two specimens are known so far.
A genus with many hidden species
Lerista is the second most species rich reptile genus in Australia, with 98 recognized species. Many members of the group have very limited ranges, sometimes restricted to a single region or habitat type. In some cases, species are known from only one or two collected individuals.This pattern makes the genus challenging to study and highlights how easily species can be missed if surveys are infrequent or too broad.
Conservation work supports discovery
The Pungalina Seven Emu Wildlife Sanctuary has been managed as a conservation area since 2008. Work there focuses on controlling feral animals and improving fire regimes, both of which can have a strong influence on small reptiles and other ground dwelling species.Researchers say the discovery of Lerista munuwajarlu shows the value of long term protection and repeated surveys. Without consistent management and follow up fieldwork, the species may never have been confirmed.
What the discovery quietly suggests
So far, the Gulf Coastal Slider is only known from one location. That makes continued protection of its habitat important, even if the animal itself remains rarely seen. Scientists caution that many similar species may exist in the Gulf region, waiting to be noticed through patient, detailed work rather than dramatic finds.In places like the Gulf of Carpentaria, biodiversity does not always announce itself. Sometimes it appears briefly, leaves few traces, and waits years before being seen again.
