Submitted by Tricia Harnett on Tue, 25/06/2024 - 14:18
Giant lizards called heath goannas could save Australian sheep farmers millions of dollars a year by keeping blowfly numbers down - and must be prioritised in conservation schemes to boost native wildlife, say researchers.
A study led by the University of Cambridge has found that heath goannas - a species of giant, scavenging lizard - act as natural clean-up crews by clearing maggot-ridden animal carcasses from the landscape.
The report's first author is Tom Jameson, a PhD researcher based in the University of Cambridge Museum of Zoology, part of the Department of Zoology.
Link to the full article on the Cambridge University website.
Contact details
Jacqueline Garget, Communications Manager, Office of External Affairs and Communications, University of Cambridge jacqueline.garget@admin.cam.ac.uk +44 (0)7561 105395
Tom Jameson, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge tjmj3@cam.ac.uk
