New Zealand Discoveries

New Zealand is still offering up new species, in this case several lizards. From the Dominion Post:

"The Sinbad Valley, tucked away in a corner of Fiordland, has revealed a range of weird and wonderful new species over the years, including wetas and other insects." ...
"Landcare Research biologist Trent Bell went into the lost valley last month aiming to find a [lizard] species first discovered by a group of rock climbers in 2004.
"He returned with more than he bargained for – three previously unknown species of skink.
Many of the small lizards were found on rocky outcrops at high altitude, with some proving difficult to catch, including one goggle-eyed beast which had since been dubbed 'the little Sinbad skink'.
"'It was a funny-looking bugger, with huge eyes and big feet. I knew it was something not known to science.' ...
"'The realisation that we're dealing with a large, stocky and entirely new species has led us to question what else is out there in the alpine areas of Fiordland,' Bell said.
"The Sinbad Valley runs alongside Milford Sound and until several years ago was home to the last kakapo naturally surviving on the Mainland."