A Vietnamese crocodile-tailed lizard that looks like a cartoon character, a horseshoe bat that wouldn't look out of place in a Star Wars movie, and a carnivorous freshwater turtle that eats snails. These are 3 of a total of 115 special new species discovered by scientists in 2016 in the Mekong region; Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has bundled the 3 new mammal species, 11 reptiles, 11 amphibians, 2 fish species and 88 plant species in the Stranger Species report.
“It is almost unbelievable: more than 2 new species a week and more than 2500 discoveries in the last 20 years show how incredibly important the Mekong region is for biodiversity worldwide,” said Stuart Chapman of WWF Greater Mekong. “On the other hand, there are also many threats and the pressure on nature is immense. Yet these discoveries also give us hope that species from the tiger to the freshwater turtle will eventually survive.”
Some highlights from the report:
- A Vietnamese crocodile-tailed lizard, Shinisaurus crocodilurus vietnamensis, is a medium-sized lizard found in remote freshwater and forest areas of southern China and northern Vietnam. The new species is immediately under serious threat from destruction of its habitat, mining industry and the lizard is also popular as a pet. There are probably barely 200 copies in Vietnam. The lizard was discovered by a research team led by Professor Dr. Thomas Ziegler.
- A mountain horseshoe-nosed bat, Rhinolophus monticolus, has been found in the mountain forest areas of Laos and Thailand. Its discoverer Dr. Pipat Soisook took 10 years to determine the new species. The horseshoe noses get their name from the horseshoe-shaped appendage on their nose. Some say the bat resembles one of the Cantina Band members from Star Wars.
- A snail-eating or terrapin, Malayemys isan, has not been discovered in the wild but at a local market in northeastern Thailand. The market traders had caught the turtle in a nearby canal. The team of dr. Montri Sumontha bought the animal because they thought it was a new species. The survival of this new species is threatened by dikes and dams and will have to be protected by Thai law.
- 2 moles discovered in Vietnam give a nice insight into the development of Indochinese mammals. They were discovered in a network of streams and rivers in the north of the country. One of the discoverers of the new species, Dr. Alexei Abramov notes that moles stay out of the hands of poachers because they live underground in protected areas.
- A brightly colored frog, Odorrana Mutschmanni, is one of 1 new species discovered in a forested area with karst rock formations in northern Vietnam. According to the research team of Dr. Truong Nguyen, the animals are threatened by quarries and road construction and protection of the habitat is badly needed.
- A freshwater fish in Cambodia with distinctive black and brown stripes on its elongated body.
Illegal pet trade
Due to the development of the region, from mines to dams, the habitats of the new species are under enormous pressure. On top of that, poaching for the illegal pet trade means that some species may be extinct before they are discovered.
“Like the unique animal and plant species in the Mekong to works of art that deserve protection from unscrupulous collectors willing to shell out thousands of dollars for the rarest specimens,” says Chapman. “Especially the markets and shops in the border area of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar can still go about their business with illegal trade with impunity. Governments must crack down on poaching and illegal wildlife markets. The notorious tiger and bear farms must also be shut down as soon as possible because it perpetuates the illegal trade.”
WWF works with partner organizations to tackle the trade.
A crocodile tail lizard has been discovered which was also kept as a pet. Understand it.
And a snail-eating turtle in a market. Ask the locals if they know the turtle because it is from their region.
In 2017, a new animal will be discovered in the Bangkok zoo, keep an eye out.
Unfortunately, most animal species that are yet to be discovered will also be extremely threatened in their survival.
Humans destroy more than we can imagine so I hope that nature conservation will gradually be looked at in SE Asia above economic interest (although that does not only apply to SE Asia)