New species of lumpy and lizard-like tree frogs discovered

Vietnamese scientists have discovered a new species of lumpy frog in the high mountains of Hoang Lien (Lao Cai) and announced a new species of finger goose like Cyrtodactylus in Dong Nai and Ba Ria - Vung Tau.

The new lizard species was named after the site of the first standard sample with scientific names: Cyrtodactylus cattienensis Geissler, Nazarov, Orlov, Boehme, Phung, Nguyen & Ziegler, 2009. In addition, the standard sample of the species was collected. in Vinh Cuu Nature Reserve (Dong Nai province) and Nui Dinh area (Ba Ria - Vung Tau province).

Fairy sand lizard (Photo: Phung My Trung)

Cyrtodactylus cattienensis is a different species of fingerling geckos in Indochina region because of the characteristics such as maximum body length of 69mm; there is a black mark on the nape, extending to the back of the eye; body, tail and legs have small lines, not arranged in sequence: 4-6 colored light lines on the body and 4-12 white bars on the tail; the nodules on the back were arranged into 16-22 along the body; 28-42 rows of abdominal scales across the middle of the body; flattened skin folds do not develop or disappear, no large nodules; the tail is not flat, the base of the tail is not bulging, the scales are arranged into a ring; males have 6-8 holes before the anus are lined up to form an obtuse angle; Both males and females have a large flock in the anterior anal region and there are 3-8 large scales on each side of the thigh; no thigh hole, no groove in front of the anus; The lower tail scales small, not bulging horizontally.

This species is also the 18th recorded gecko in Vietnam. Particularly for Dong Nai province, this is the second new species of finger gecko discovered since 2008 next to the species of coniferous geckos (Cyrtodactylus huynhi).

Along with the new lizard fingerlings, American and Vietnamese scientists also discovered a new species of lumpy frogs in the high mountains of Hoang Lien (Lao Cai).

Red lumpy frog (Photo: Nguyen Quang Truong)

The new species is called Theloderma redwood lateriticum Bain , Nguyen & Doan 2009 with the name of the Latin word ' lateriticum ' meaning ' red brick '.

Small-sized red-lumped frogs have a body length of 23.5mm, the eardrum is very clear, the swimming membrane in the legs and hands are reduced, the skin on the back has small and prominent nodules with red bricks, the male does not have bag

This is also the second new frog discovered in Vietnam this year after describing the new species Odorrana Clam Frog geminata Bain, Stuart, Nguyen, Che & Rao, 2009 in Ha Giang and Cao Bang.