The crocodile lizard is one of 115 new species found in the Mekong. The WWF discovered it in 2016. A very rare creature that unfortunately is at risk of extinction. But it is not the only one. WWF has discovered 115 new species
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himThe crocodile lizard is one of 115 new species found in the Mekong. The WWF discovered it in 2016. A very rare creature that unfortunately is at risk of extinction. But it is not the only one. WWF has discovered 115 new species.
These are 3 mammals, 11 amphibians, two fish, 11 reptiles and 88 plants identified by scientists in Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam.
A crocodile lizard transformed into a cartoon character, the snail-eating turtle discovered in a Thai food market, and a horseshoe bat that wouldn't look out of place in a Star Wars movie are just three of 115 new species discovered in the region. of the Great Mekong in 2016.
This area is already home to some of the most iconic species in the world, but each year this list grows as more and more scientists travel there climbing mountains, fording rivers in search of the mysteries that nature still hides.
Between 1997 and 2015, 2.409 new species were discovered while in 2015, 163 new species were found including 9 amphibians, 11 fish, 14 reptiles, 126 plants and 3 mammals.
While it is surprising to admire the diversity of species discovered each year, many of them are threatened by human activity. Fish and forest species are under increasing pressure from developing infrastructure such as roads and dams, while rare or edible species such as the crocodile lizard and snail-eating turtle are being targeted by poachers for the animal and meat trade.
Let's find out some of these new creatures:
Index
Vietnamese crocodile lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus vietnamensis
This creature lives in freshwater habitats, in the forests of southern China and northern Vietnam. It is threatened by habitat destruction, coal mining and capture as a pet. Only 200 specimens survive in Vietnam.
The lizard was also transformed into a cartoon character to explain to children the importance of its protection.
Tartaruga mangia-lumache (Malayemys isan)
Not all new species are found in remote jungles. One of the worst places to come across an unknown species is a local market. This was the fate of the snail-eating turtle, found in a market in northeastern Thailand. This species is threatened by infrastructure, especially dams.
"Horseshoe" mountain bat (Rhinolophus monticolus)
Discovered in the mountainous forests of Laos and Thailand, the bat has a horseshoe-shaped facial structure. It took scientists 10 years to say with certainty that it was a new species.
Rana (Odorrana mutschmanni)
Characterized by bright colors, this species is threatened by concrete and new road construction. The frog was discovered in the karst forest of the Ha Lang district, an area known by scientists to host many species of vertebrates.A research team led by Dr. Truong Nguyen has discovered frogs perched on boulders and in shallow ponds in a small area of the forest.
Cobite (Schistura kampucheensis)
A loach is a type of fish known to have a long, striped body, but according to Dr. Joerg Bohlen, not much is known how diverse this group of fish is. The creature was found in Cambodia.
Due moli (Euroscaptor eagles and Euroscaptor blacksmiths)
The two species were discovered in a network of rivers and lakes in Northern Vietnam. It is thought that they can maintain stable populations and are able to escape poachers because they live underground in protected areas.
The most recent report from WWF's Living Planet found that by 2020, global populations of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles could decline by two-thirds in just 50 years. The report shows that humans are overwhelming the planet for the first time in Earth's history by threatening iconic species, including those in the Greater Mekong region.
READ also:
- 163 NEW SPECTACULAR SPECIES DISCOVERED IN MEKONG: ENDANGERED (PHOTO)
- THE PURING MONKEY AND THE VEGETARIAN PIRANHA: 441 NEW SPECIES DISCOVERED IN THE AMAZON (PHOTO)
According to the scientists who discovered them, it is necessary to recognize the importance of global biodiversity and to prioritize the protection of the ecosystems in which these endangered species live.
Francesca Mancuso
