8legs: Fauna & flora international

#1 out of 1

Secrets of the karst: new species found in Cambodia’s limestone caves – in pictures

A survey of Battambang province’s karst caves documented multiple new species and fossils across 60 caves and 10 hills.
A venomous pit viper from the Trimeresurus genus was among the newly documented species.
The expedition identified a Gehyra gecko new to science in several karst areas of Battambang.
Dixonius noctivagus, the Battambang leaf-toed gecko, was among the discoveries and is likely geographically isolated.
Four populations of Cyrtodactylus kampingpoiensis were found, suggesting possible speciation due to karst isolation.
The karst-dwelling gecko shiva was first recorded in Cambodia and named after the Hindu god of destruction.
An Orthomorpha battambangiensis millipede with vivid coloring may signal toxicity or unpalatability to predators.
Researchers highlighted that Cambodia’s karst landscapes may harbor more undiscovered species due to geographic isolation.
The survey team included researchers Sothearen Thi, Phyroum Chourn and colleagues from Fauna & Flora.

Vote 0