QUITO -- A team of Ecuadoran and Italian researchers have discovered a unique species of pink land iguanas living on the Galapagos Islands, the scientist who wrote the report told AFP.

"It is surprising to have found in the 21st century a find of this magnitude," said Washington Tapia, head of research at the Galapagos National Park.

Researchers at first thought that the iguanas, which are pink with black spots, simply had skin pigmentation problems, Tapia said.

The first pink iguanas were discovered in 1986, and after years of research scientists concluded that it was a unique species.

"We have not yet determined the size of the population, but we estimate that it is small because we have only captured 36 pink iguanas for research up to now," Tapia said in a telephone interview.

The pink species can be up to 1.8 meters (6 feet) long as measured from tip to tail, and unlike the other land iguanas, does not have a row of spines running up its head.

"It is a unique species," Tapia said. "But more research is needed to better determine its unique characteristics."

Made up of 13 main islands, in 1978 UNESCO declared the islands Patrimony of the Humanity.