India, Oct. 29 -- As climate change intensifies, the mountain dragon lizard in Australia is being forced to higher altitudes, a trend that cannot continue indefinitely.

New research using fossils and genetic data reveals that these reptiles once had a broader range, but now face isolation and reduced genetic diversity, highlighting the urgent need for updated conservation strategies.

In pockets of highlands across Australia's east lives a shy and secretive lizard. It's usually reddish grey in colour, with two pale strips running the length of its spiky back. Growing to a maximum of 20 centimetres, it could easily fit in the palm of an adult's hand.

But although the mountain dragon (Rankinia diemensis) is small, it can teach us big less...