In a new study, scientists have found a trio of reptiles, specifically three newly discovered gecko species, that share the same genetic species.

To reach this conclusion, scientists collected samples in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2009 to 2014.

Researchers from the University of Texas at El Paso Institute (UTEP) have described three new gecko species after carefully analyzing their geographic, morphological, and genetic DNA data.

These three reptiles may be a single species, found in different parts of the Albertine Valley in Central Africa.

UTEP’s Dr. Daniel Hughes said: “We’ve got a really beautiful, diverse data set, especially with this trio of new gecko species, which means we can see the true diversity of geckos” .

“We have taken the next and final step to describe these three new gecko species,” Hughes added.

Two of these chameleons are named Rugege Chameleon (Kinyongia rugegensis) and Forest Chameleon (Kinyongia itombwensis) – after the mountain ranges in which they are found.

The third species, Forest Chameleon (also known as Kinyongia tolleyae) is named after the financier Krystal Tolley, chief scientist of the South African Biodiversity Institute, who contributed significantly to gecko research. flowers in nature.

Thus, there are a total of 206 geckos recorded on this planet and Hughes hopes to discover many more new gecko species in the future.

This discovery was just published in the journal Zoology of the Linnean Society.