Some new glow-in-the-dark reptiles have been discovered in Africa. Namibia’s geckos are shining bright under black lights in a new study published in Scientific Reports. Their story says that the trademark stripes and other blots on the animals single them out to other geckos and allow them to remain hidden from predators. There’s been a recent run of animals getting discovered with these fluorescent markings. Platypus in Australia and others for the most eye-popping examples. It just goes to show that no matter how much we really know about the world, there’s still more to explore. Even strange is the fact that this particular species have slightly translucent skin and their bones glow under UV light as well. (So, that will keep you up at night as well.) Iridophores are not traditionally linked to the gecko, but certain reef fish also have this strange ability. The entire situation is extremely fascinating.
My colleagues and I have discovered intense, neon-green fluorescence in the web-footed gecko, Pachydactylus rangei! It’s produced by modified iridophores and is amongst the brightest fluorescence in vertebrates.Published today in @SciReports!More here: https://t.co/3gtmeKyVm4 pic.twitter.com/TZzkcuK55N
