In 2014, Vietnam discovered 126 new species

In 2014, scientists discovered 126 new species of organisms in Vietnam, according to statistics from a group of scientists from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, under the Academy of Science and Technology. Vietnam.

126 new species of creatures in Vietnam in 2014

Thomas mouse tree Chiromyscus thomasi newly discovered in Son La.(Photo: Zookeys.pensoft.net)

The list of "Vietnam Biodiversity and Conservation " group (Biodiversity and Conservation of Vietnam - BIODIVN), has 80 species of animals and 46 new species of plants and fungi that have been discovered in Vietnam last year. .

According to Dr. Nguyen Duc Anh, of the Department of Soil Environmental Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, representative of BIODIVN group, said the number of 126 newly discovered species in the past year can be considered a great success. of biological scientists .

" In 2012-2013, only about 100 new species of organisms were discovered in Vietnam. However, in 2014 alone, 126 new species were found, up 26% from both previous years" , Dr. Duc Anh said.

Statistics from the BIODIVN group were conducted based on findings published in prestigious scientific journals around the world in 2014.

Of the 80 newly published animal species, mainly belong to the group of Insects (accounting for 64%), Amphibians (accounting for 16%), and the remaining groups such as Reptiles, Fish, Paleontology, Crustacean, Soft Body, Animal (accounting for 2 to 5%). In which, 45% of species were discovered in the North, 43% from the South and only 12% from Central Vietnam.

Of the 46 new species of plants, fungi and lichens for science discovered in Vietnam , 50% of species come from the South, 33% of species come from the North and 17% of species come from Central Vietnam. . In particular, the focus of research in Lam Dong province has yielded amazing results with 14 published plant species, accounting for 30.4% of the total number of detected species.

According to Dr. Nguyen Duc Anh, the discovery of two new mammal species is the bat of Hypsugo dolichodon in Dong Nai and the tree mouse Thomas Chiromyscus thomasi in Son La is considered the most important discovery in the past year. Because now, Vietnam is very difficult to detect new animals.

The finding is also very impressive in 2014 is the discovery of ancient (extinct) mammals in Vietnam. Scientists have published three ancient mammal species from fossil samples collected in Na Duong and Lang Son, including: Rhino rhinoceros Epiaceratherium naduongense, oriental charcoal animal Bakalovia orientalis, and ancient freshwater fish Planktophaga minuta .

Pinus cernua Pinus cernua discovered in Son La.(Photo: Nguyen Sinh Khang / BIODIVN).

In terms of plants, the discovery of Pinus cernua Pinus cernua is the most impressive discovery in 2014. For many years, there have been no new discoveries about pine trees.

Vietnam is considered one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world with nearly 19 thousand animals and nearly 14,000 known plant species. This number continues to increase as hundreds of new species of science are discovered from Vietnam each year.

However, according to Dr. Duc Anh, the discovery of new species in Vietnam is also showing great challenges to the protection and conservation of biodiversity.

' Newly discovered species have narrow distribution areas and are at high risk of extinction, for example, reptiles, frogs, coniferous plants . Deforestation, conversion of forest land and declaration. Overexploitation of biological resources is the main threat to the habitat of new species in particular and species in general. Threatened place of living is the reason that puts these species at risk of disappearing from the ecosystem , 'said Dr. Duc Anh.