Researchers found 234 new species in Southeast Asia's Greater Mekong region in 2023, including a vampire hedgehog and a dragon lizard that "could play in 'Game of Thrones'," according to a report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The newly identified species include 173 vascular plants, 26 reptiles, 17 amphibians, 15 fish, and three mammals.
The WWF's report summarizes the findings of hundreds of scientists working in the Mekong region. "Although these species were only described by science last year, they have been living for many millennia in the unique habitats of the Mekong region," said Stefan Ziegler, an Asia expert at WWF Germany.
Among the most bizarre discoveries is a well-camouflaged lizard, Laodracon carsticola, found high on the rugged karst pinnacles of Laos. Due to its stony appearance, the WWF remarked that it "could play in 'Game of Thrones'." The lizard has only been seen 50 to 70 meters high on limestone pinnacles and was first spotted by a guide on a zipline tour. Its habitat and coloration have likely contributed to it being overlooked by scientists until now.
Another remarkable find is the vampire hedgehog, Hylomys macaron, named after the Vietnamese word *ma cà rồng* for "vampire," due to its long, pointed fangs and sharp teeth. This furry member of the hedgehog family is endemic to Vietnam and has soft fur instead of spines.
A green-black pit viper, Trimeresurus ciliaris, has striking marbling that makes it look as if it has long eyelashes. The species, called the Limestone Eyelash Pit Viper, was found in central and southern Myanmar. DNA studies of specimens collected in Myanmar revealed that the snake, previously believed to be Trimeresurus albolabris, is in fact a different species.
The discoveries include a bright orange crocodile newt, Tylototriton ngoclinhensis, which lives at altitudes between 1,800 and 2,300 meters above sea level—a new elevation range for its species. A lime-green tree frog species, Zhangixalus melanoleucus, was found 2,000 meters above sea level in the evergreen forests of Phou Samsoum mountain in northern Laos. The area is one of the least studied parts of Asia and is home to many other endemic species.
Scientists also identified a tiny leafless orchid, Chiloschista quangdangii, thought to be extremely rare. Discovered in a local plant market, the orchid may already be endangered due to exploitation by the wildlife trade.
The fauna and flora of the Greater Mekong region are under strong pressure from habitat loss and degradation, illegal wildlife trade, climate change, pollution, and invasive species. "It may also be vulnerable to climate change, since species restricted to high elevations have little opportunity to move to higher ground as their habitat gets warmer," warned the WWF in their report.
A tiny leaf-nosed bat species, Hipposideros kingstonae, was found from Thailand to Borneo. It features a distinctive leaf-shaped nose used for echolocation. The bat's roosting locations are unknown; it has been sighted near large limestone caves, suggesting it could shelter inside them, but it has also been observed far from any known caves, indicating it might roost in tree hollows.
Many of the newly identified animals and plants are threatened with extinction due to human activities. The Mekong river system suffers from pollution and increasing construction, including the development of hydropower plants. "Monstrous hydropower plants cause crop failures for the rural population, interrupt the migrations of many animal species that depend on the dynamics of the river, and decimate fish stocks," said Georg Scattolin from WWF Austria.
Since 1997, scientists have identified over 3,623 new plant and vertebrate animal species in the Mekong region, averaging around 130 new species per year. Most of these species occur only in this region.
Vietnam has been a hotspot for these discoveries, with around half of all the new species. The country has 106 endemic species among the new findings, the highest number of any nation in the Greater Mekong region. Among the new species in Vietnam is Uropsilus fansipanensis, a newly discovered shrew-mole that is one of the ten lightest land mammal species on Earth.
The WWF [https://www.jpost.com/international/article-734040] called on the governments of the region to strengthen the protection of these rare creatures and their habitats. Many species are likely to go extinct before they are even discovered due to human-linked pressures. The river dolphins in the region are among the most endangered mammals in the world.
Bild [https://www.bild.de/leben-wissen/wissenschaft/wwf-report-forscher-entdecken-230-neue-arten-675ed394061f8f7ebb6e6706], New Scientist, Die Welt, The Straits Times, and the Philippine Star covered the WWF's report, among other news outlets.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.