Discover more than 350 new species of flora and fauna in the Himalayas

Scientists say more than 350 new plant and animal species have been discovered in the eastern Himalayan mountains, but now they are seriously threatened by the effects of climate change , according to the International Protection Fund. Nature (WWF) August 10.

Of the more than 350 newly discovered species, there are 244 plant species, 16 amphibian species, 16 reptile species, 14 species of fish, 2 species of birds, 2 species of mammals and at least 60 species of invertebrates. living. They were discovered by WWF scientists over the past 10 years (1998-2008) in the eastern Himalayan mountains - one of the highest biodiversity areas in the world - stretching from the Kingdom of Bhutan to northeast India , further north of Myanmar, Nepal and the territory part south of Tibet, China autonomous region.

Mark Wright, WWF scientific advisor, said: 'The habitat in the eastern Himalayan mountains is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Rapid population growth, deforestation, cattle grazing, poaching, wildlife trade, mining, pollution and excessive hydropower development have also contributed to increasing pressure. The region's fragile ecosystem.

" There are only 25% of the Himalayan mountains remaining in an intact habitat and up to 163 species living in this region are globally threatened ," he added.

Therefore, WWF is demanding that governments in these countries commit to cooperate in the effort to protect the environment in this rich geographical area of ​​life.

A number of new plants and animals have been discovered in the eastern Himalayan mountains:

Green venom Pitviper (Trimeresurus gumprechti) was found at altitudes higher than 400m, around Putao, northern Myanmar in 2002. Adults can grow up to 130cm in length.

Leptobrachium smithi frog was identified as a new species in 1999, discovered in the lowland rainforest of Assam state, India. The frog is only a few centimeters long, quite special because there are big yellow eyes that bulge out and look very sharp and brilliant.

Heterometrus nepalensis is one of three new species of cattle described in 2004 in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. This finding is particularly important because it has been one of the first scorpions ever discovered in Nepal. It is 8cm long, reddish and pointed reddish-brown back contains a lot of toxins

Channa aurantimaculata is found only within small streams, adjacent swamps and the Brahmaputra River area of ​​northern Assam tropical rainforest, India. This 40cm long fish was discovered in 2000, striking with burgundy and orange stripes running along the body, quite aggressive and its favorite prey are small fish and animals backbone

Liocichla bugunorum Liocichla bugunorum only lives within a limit of 2km2 in the Himalayan eastern forest area with many shrubs and small trees, at an altitude of 2,000 to 2,350m

Coelogyne pantlingii orchid , found in Sikkim state, India

Macrobrachium agwi shrimp are easily identified by the purple-brown color described in 2008 after they were discovered in Cooch Behar, Bengal Bay, India.