SYDNEY, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Australian scientists have discovered the world's smallest goanna lizard in a remote region of the country.
The Dampier Peninsula goanna, or Varanus Sparnus, is the 26th goanna species identified in Australia and the 1,001st overall reptile species in the ancient land.
The new species grows to just 23 centimeters and weighs only 16 grams, and scientists who discovered it in the Kimberley region of northwest Western Australia believe it has remained unchanged for more than 6 million years.
Other goanna species can grow to more than three meters in length.
"The biggest mass of the largest (Dampier Peninsula goanna) was 16 grams, with a length of about 23 centimeters, whereas a komodo dragon (also a goanna) is about 80 kilograms at least, and over three meters long," Dr. Paul Doughty of the West Australian Museum told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
"So it's all in the same group, but different scale."
"We've just broken 1,000 species of reptiles in Australia, which is a 10th of the world's diversity."
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