Discover four new lizard species in Vietnam

Four species of new rock lizards have been discovered in the Southwest region of Vietnam. The discovery has just been published in Herpetologica, an international scientific journal specializing in amphibians and reptiles. Four species of endemic round-eyed lizards of Cnemaspis belonging to the Gecko family - Gekkonidae were discovered in the Western South of Vietnam.

These round-eyed lizard species are named scientifically as white-tailed round-eyed lizards - Cnemaspis caudanivea sp. nov. Grismer and Ngo, 2007; Cnemaspis auranticopes sp - Cnemaspis auranticopes sp. nov. Grismer and Ngo, 2007; Round-eyed lizard, Forbidden Mountain - Cnemaspis nuicamensis sp. nov. Grismer and Ngo, 2007; and Tuc Dup round-eyed lizard - Cnemaspis tucdupensis sp. nov. Grismer and Ngo, 2007.

The discovery was published in Herpetologica 63, Episode 3, No. 4, December 2007, an international scientific journal specialized in amphibians and reptiles.

These endemic rock lizards have a relatively small average body size: their head length is 43.5-56.5mm, the tail length is 60.0-88.6mm. The color of each new species is quite beautiful. (see pictures). These new rock lizards are daytime active species, often living on rocks, sometimes moving on trees. The distribution area of ​​these endemic rock lizards is mountainous and island areas of the two provinces of An Giang and Kien Giang.

Cnemaspis auranticopes sp - Cnemaspis auranticopes sp.nov.Grismer & Ngo, 2007. (Photo: VNN)

This discovery has increased the number of endemic lizards of this species of Cnemaspis - Cnemaspis in the country into 5 species since the first discovery of the endemic Boulenger lizard-shaped lizard - Cnemaspis boulengeri Strauch, 1887 in Con Dao National Park, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province by A. Strauch animal researcher in 1887.

These discoveries have made an important contribution to the inventory of biodiversity and conservation of wildlife species of our country and internationally. These are endemic species with great scientific value and very high significance for conservation. This discovery also shows that the area of ​​Bay Nui, Hon Dat and Hon Tre islands is not only significant in terms of culture, history and tourism, but also important places in the conservation of dense animals. Vietnam.

The discovery is the result of international cooperation between Professor L. Lee Grismer, Department of Biology at La Sierra University, California State, USA and animal researcher Ngo Van Tri, Ecology Group and Phat Today is the Department of Technology and Environmental Management, Institute of Tropical Biology of Vietnam Academy of Science in recent years. In addition, the research team also received support on a number of technical issues (agreeing to consign standard and comparative samples of these new species) in the Biology and Biology Department's Animal Collection. Study Natural Science, National University of Ho Chi Minh City.

Bich Ngan