What Are the Unique Characteristics of the Newly Discovered Vertebrates?

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The discussion centers on the LeafTail Gecko, highlighting its unique survival strategy of confusing predators by mimicking two animals linked in the middle, with the tail resembling a head. Observations note that the gecko's hind legs appear stronger and thicker, contributing to its ability to evade threats. The conversation also touches on the broader theme of animal adaptations, referencing the recent verification of a new dolphin species and emphasizing the intricate design of gecko anatomy, where elbows and knees are oriented oppositely. This anatomical arrangement may serve a functional purpose, balancing power and precision in movement. Overall, the LeafTail Gecko is celebrated for its remarkable evolutionary traits and camouflage techniques.
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The LeafTail Gecko

http://www-public.jcu.edu.au/public/groups/everyone/documents/media_release/284852.3.jpg

Cape Melville Shade skink

http://www-public.jcu.edu.au/public/groups/everyone/documents/media_release/284852.4.jpg

The Blotched Boulder frog

http://www-public.jcu.edu.au/public/groups/everyone/documents/media_release/284852.5.jpg

http://www-public.jcu.edu.au/news/current/JCU_130192
 
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I can't make head or tail of the gecko!
 
My bet is head is on the left. Hind legs are typically stronger, and those on the right look thicker.

Other than that it looks just like two animals linked in the middle.
 
survival strategy

Gecko has developed a beatiful estrategy of confussing depredators in their attack, they surely attack the most prominent extreme, that seems the head, but is the tail.
Beatiful creature, even the elbows and knees are apparently the opposite.
 
All geckos have elbows and knees oriented opposite, as far as I know.

addendum:

oversimplified speculation: I think the idea is that you use pushing for power and pulling for precision, so the front are set up to emphasize pulling and the rear are setup to emphasize pushing.
 
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Popular article referring to the BA.2 variant: Popular article: (many words, little data) https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/17/health/ba-2-covid-severity/index.html Preprint article referring to the BA.2 variant: Preprint article: (At 52 pages, too many words!) https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.02.14.480335v1.full.pdf [edited 1hr. after posting: Added preprint Abstract] Cheers, Tom

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