The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) MIMAROPA has reported the discovery of Luperosaurus alvarezi, a gecko found nowhere else on Earth, except the Sibuyan Island in Romblon.

According to the DENR, the discovery adds another remarkable species to Sibuyan's growing list of endemic wildlife, following the recent announcement of one of the Philippines' smallest frogs in Sibuyan Island on April 2026.

The DENR MIMAROPA welcomed the finding, noting that it further reinforces Sibuyan's status as one of the Philippines' premier biodiversity strongholds and highlights the continuing importance of protecting its remaining forests.

The said animal is a fringed forest gecko, was described in the international peer-reviewed journal PeerJ by researchers Camila G. Meneses and Rafe M. Brown following comprehensive morphological and molecular analyses that confirmed it as a distinct evolutionary lineage found nowhere else in the world.

The species was named in honor of the late Filipino taxonomist and ecologist Dr. James D. V. Alvarez, recognizing his significant contributions to Philippine biodiversity research and conservation.

The discovery was based on specimens collected from the forests of Sibuyan Island, home to Mount Guiting-Guiting Natural Park, one of the country's most biologically important protected areas. Often referred to as the “Galápagos of Asia,” Sibuyan Island is renowned for its exceptionally high level of endemism due to its long geological isolation.

The recent discoveries of both Platymantis guiting and the Luperosaurus alvarezi demonstrate that the island continues to harbor species that remain unknown to science, further emphasizing its global conservation value.

Researchers found that Luperosaurus alvarezi possesses distinct physical characteristics that differentiate it from all other known members of the genus.

Like many of Sibuyan's endemic wildlife species, its highly restricted geographic distribution underscores the importance of conserving the island's remaining forests, which continue to provide vital habitat for unique flora and fauna.

According to the study, the discovery highlights the need to further strengthen biodiversity conservation efforts across the Romblon Island Group.

While the species occurs within a protected landscape, forest ecosystems continue to face pressures from illegal logging, habitat degradation, infrastructure development, and other human induced threats. Protecting these habitats is essential to ensuring the long-term survival of the island's unique wildlife.

The finding also demonstrates that the Philippines remains one of the world's megadiverse countries, with many species still awaiting scientific discovery.

Continued biodiversity assessments, scientific research, and collaborative conservation initiatives are essential to expanding knowledge of the country's natural heritage while informing science-based conservation policies and management.

DENR MIMAROPA recognizes the invaluable contributions of Filipino and international scientists, protected area managers, local government units, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, academic institutions, and conservation partners whose collective efforts make discoveries such as this possible.

Their continued collaboration strengthens the country's commitment to safeguarding its unique biodiversity for present and future generations.

As new species continue to emerge from the country's protected landscapes, DENR MIMAROPA reaffirms its commitment to advancing biodiversity conservation through science-based policies, strengthened habitat protection, and sustainable environmental management.

The discovery of Luperosaurus alvarezi serves as another reminder that the Philippines' forests continue to reveal extraordinary wildlife—and that protecting these irreplaceable ecosystems is a shared responsibility.