224 new species discovered in Southeast Asia
New species have been discovered including a monkey and a gecko
Last updated 26th Jan 2022
224 new species have been discovered in Southeast Asia by wildlife experts, but there are warnings they need to be safeguarded.
A region known for its tropical climate and beautiful beaches has revealed a total of 155 plants, 16 fish species, 17 amphibians, 35 reptiles and many more.
A langur monkey, an orange and grey gecko and the world's first succulent bamboo have also been discovered.
The discoveries have taken place in the Greater Mekong region covering Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam.
Dr Yoganand Kandasamy, regional wildlife lead at WWF-Greater Mekong said: “With over 3,000 new species in the past 24 years, the Greater Mekong region is no doubt a world heavyweight contender for species discoveries."
Species that have been discovered
- An orange-brown knobbly newt from Thailand
- A big-headed frog from Vietnam and Cambodia
- A colourless cave-dwelling fish from Burma
- A rock gecko from Thailand- Half orange, half grey for camouflage
- A plant from the ginger family with a pungent odour from Thailand
- A mulberry tree from Vietnam
- Begonias from Laos and Burma
- New bamboo species from Laos - with a stem able to inflate and deflate in reaction to the seasons.
The langur monkey
The langur monkey also known as Trachypithecus popa, was named after Burma's Mount Popa; a dormant volcano.
Specimens from the langur monkey have been collected more than a century ago by London’s Natural History Museum with no knowledge of whether or not the species were still alive.
With images being caught on camera in the Burma Region, it had come to light that the species were still alive.
According to experts, only 200-250 langur monkeys exist within four isolated locations.
Threats to biodiversity
WWF says Southeast Asia is a hotspot for wildlife diversity, but warned they face threats and need to be protected. To avoid extinction, species and habitats need to be safeguarded.
Dr Yoganand Kandasamy said : “These species are extraordinary, beautiful products of millions of years of evolution, but are under intense threat, with many species going extinct even before they are described."
“They require our greatest respect, utmost attention and urgent actions to protect their habitats and minimise exploitation.”
In todays world, it isn't very uncommon for species to go extinct; from the Dodo Bird to the Golden Bamboo Lemur, Climate change education is essential to the reformation of wildlife and ecosystems.
Threats also include hunting, habitat loss, agriculture and timber extraction.
Action needed to save species
Mark Wright, WWF-UK’s director of science acknowledged the excitement such discovery can invoke but additionally added "it is also a timely reminder of the extreme jeopardy that so many of these species and habitats face, and what we risk losing if urgent and committed action is not taken.”
Mark Wright has advocated the continuation of a conversation on Biodiversity at the UN global biodiversity summit later this year. It is time to commit to halting and reversing the destruction of nature by 2030.