Dickinson’s lizard pays homage to Iron Maiden singer – 02/09/2024 – Science

A group of scientists discovered a new species of lizard in a natural reserve in Peru that they named Bruce Dickinson, in honor of the lead singer of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, the National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State reported this Friday ( 9).

The copy Enyalioides dickinsonithe scientific name of the reptile, was discovered along with another new species, the Enyalioides cyanocephalusin the humid forests of the Cordillera de Colán, the institution said.

“Called Dickinson’s lizard; it receives its specific name in honor of Paul Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of the legendary heavy metal band Iron Maiden”, highlighted Sernanp, without detailing whether there are fans of the group among the scientists responsible for the discovery.

Dickinson, 65, is the lead singer of Iron Maiden, the band founded in 1975 in London. Considered one of the most important and representative groups of the genre, the group has legions of fans all over the world, particularly in Latin America, where they usually fill stadiums on their tours.

The new species of lizard stands out for its orange head, green body and short legs.

The new species were recently discovered as part of research carried out by experts from the Rainforest Partnership, from the United States, the Peruvian Institute of Herpetology and the Museum of Zoology of the School of Biological Sciences of the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador.

The Cordillera de Colán national sanctuary is 39,215 hectares in size and is home to around 470 species of birds and 70 species of mammals.