Scientists discover new pacific iguana.

• Position: Ecological Diversity

A new iguana has been discovered in the central regions of Fiji. Named Brachylophus bulabula, the colorful creature joins only two other living Pacific iguana species, one of which is critically endangered. The scientific name bulabula is a doubling of bula, the Fijian word for "hello," offering an even more enthusiastic greeting.

Pacific iguanas almost have disappeared as the result of human presence. Two species were eaten to extinction after people arrived nearly 3,000 years ago. The three living Brachylophus varieties face threats from loss and alteration of their habitat, as well as from feral cats, mongooses, and goats that eat iguanas or their food sources.

"Our new understanding of the species diversity in this group is a first step in identifying conservation targets," explains Robert Fisher, research zoologist at the U.S. Geological Survey in San Diego, Calif., and coauthor of the study on the new iguana.

With only one exception, each of the 13 islands where living iguanas were sampled showed at least one distinct iguana genetic line that was not seen elsewhere. The Fiji crested iguana, Brachylophus vitiensis, is gone from many islands it once occupied and now is listed as critically endangered on the "Red List" of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, headquartered in Washington, D.C.

"This new study indicates that the other...