Killer bacteria could wipe out Christmas Island’s blue-tailed skink, Lister’s gecko unless cure found

New research shows Christmas Island reptiles are facing extinction from a deadly microscopic killer.

According to a study by the University of Sydney, a bacterium is threatening captive populations of the Lister’s gecko and the blue-tailed skink, which have already died out in the wild.

Scientists described Enterococcus lacertideformus as a “silent killer” with no cure.

Co-lead researcher Jessica Agius said the microorganism grew inside animals’ heads before…