Discovering new crab species in Binh Thuan

In late November, Vietnamese scientists announced a new variety and species of freshwater crabs for the world after 4 years of research.

Found new varieties of freshwater crab in Vietnam

New varieties and species with scientific name Binhthuanomon vinhtan were discovered during the survey since 2011 in Nui Chua area (Vinh Tan, Tuy Phong and Binh Thuan communes). The crab is of medium size, reddish to reddish brown, with red and red legs. They live in deep underground caves about 50-100mm, near water sources. New varieties usually operate in the evening until late in the morning, mainly feed on insects and plants around the stream.

Binhthuanomon crab breeds honor.(Photo provided by the research team).

For this announcement, the research team of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology takes about 4 years of analysis and research with many difficulties. In mid-2011, in a survey project, experts from the Institute of Tropical Biology found the specimen. However, at that time only 2 individuals were collected, due to the lack of specimens and conditions that were not allowed, the study had to be suspended.

In July 2014, researcher Phan Doan Dang and Le Van Tho returned to look for specimens."The terrain is so steep that it is very difficult to travel, we have to hire local people to guide us to the right place, then camp to go to the night to search," Mr. Dang said.

Practicing to eat at night and appearing only when it rains with rough terrain makes it difficult to access the specimens of the group. Mr. Dang and his colleagues had to stay awake from night to morning, after many trips, the group finally collected 16 crabs and started the comparison process.

The area where crabs are found is in the rocky area, about 800m above sea level. They are distributed along two banks at the end of a small stream, the range is very narrow, about 80 m along the stream and about 30m wide from the stream. The stream where crabs live is relatively flat. The end of the stream has many big, dangerous rocks.

The crab is of medium size, with red to reddish brown, red and red legs.(Photo provided by the research team).

When specimens are available, the Institute of Tropical Biology cooperates with Dr. Do Van Tu at the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources. Comparing with a number of previous specimens, with foreign publication and help of world experts for more than a year, at the end of November 2015, the group announced a new breed of crabs.

"At first we thought it was a new species, but after careful research it was determined that it was not only a new species but also a new breed for science. We were even more excited when the research was accepted in the magazine. prestigious international, because for young researchers, this is not easy, " said Dr. Do Van Tu.

According to Dr. Tu, this study contributes to creating a basis for the diversity conservation of freshwater crabs in particular and the diversity of aquatic organisms in Vietnam in general."There are still many species of freshwater crabs in Vietnam not yet known by the scientific community. They are facing the risk of being threatened with extinction due to degradation and destruction of the living environment , " Dr Tu said.