Scientists Discover New Species of Fijian Iguana.

• Position: LIZARDS - Brief article

A new species of banded iguana has been discovered by researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey Reston, Va.; Australia's Taronga Conservation Society; and The Natonal Trust of Fiji. Brachylophus gau is one of only four living species of South Pacific iguana, and is restricted to the island of Gau, Republic of Fiji.

The first known recording of iguanas on Gau Island dates back to an 1854 expedition when the survey ship HMS Herald carried Scottish naturalist John MacGilllvray to the Fiji islands, where he chronicled his encounters with native wildlife.

Today's researchers compared copies of MacGillivray's journal entries with their own obsen/ations. Brachylophus gau is noticeably different from its peers in physical appearance. For instance, it has unique color patterning, including green throats on both males and females, whereas males of other iguana species never have solid green throats.

Pacific iguanas face threats from habitat loss and invasive species, such as...