Elvis The Monkey & Psychedelic Gecko Among New Species Found In Mekong

A monkey that has Elvis’ hairstyle, a self-cloning skink, five carnivorous plants, and a unique leaf warbler are among the 208 species newly described by science in the Greater Mekong region in 2010.

AsianScientist (Dec. 13, 2011) – A monkey that has Elvis’ hairstyle, a self-cloning skink, five carnivorous plants, and a unique leaf warbler are among the 208 species newly described by science in the Greater Mekong region in 2010.

The report also reveals that an average of one new species is recorded by science every two days in the region.

Among the ten species highlighted in the new WWF report, Wild Mekong, is the snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri). Sporting an Elvis-like hairstyle, “Snubby” – as nicknamed by scientists – can be found in Myanmar’s remote and mountainous Kachin state. Locals say the monkey can be spotted with its head between its knees in wet weather to avoid rain running into its upturned nose.

A staggering 28 reptiles were newly discovered, including a new psychedelic gecko species on Hon Khoai Island, 18 km off the southern tip of the Ca Mu Peninsula in southern Vietnam. The new species is unique in that it displays a remarkable psychedelic pattern of bright orange appendages; a dense, yellow neck overlying thick, black, lines; and a blue-gray body bearing yellow bars on its bright-orange sides.

Also, an all-female lizard (Leiolepis ngovantrii) was discovered in Vietnam that reproduces via cloning without the need for male lizards.

Five species of carnivorous pitcher plants were also discovered across Thailand and Cambodia, with some species capable of luring in and consuming small rats, mice, lizards, and even birds.

In January 2010, a small, distinctive bird living in the rocky forests of the Annamite mountain range in Laos and Vietnam was described for the first time. it is similar to other warblers in this area of Southeast Asia, except for its distinct vocalizations and slight morphological differences. The tiny bird is greenish-olive with a yellow breast and striped crown. It has a loud and unique call, which is what first alerted the researchers that the bird may be new to science.

“While the 2010 discoveries are new to science, many are already destined for the dinner table, struggling to survive in shrinking habitats and at risk of extinction,” said Stuart Chapman, Conservation Director of WWF Greater Mekong.

The extinction of the Javan rhino in Vietnam, recently confirmed by WWF, is one tragic indicator of the decline of biodiversity in the region. The Mekong’s wild places and wildlife are under extreme pressure from rapid, unsustainable development and climate change.

Six leaders from the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) will meet next week in Myanmar on Dec 19 and 20 to endorse a new strategy guiding the next decade of economic cooperation among the GMS countries.

The report can be downloaded at: Wild Mekong Report (PDF. 2.17 MB).

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Source: World Wildlife Fund for Nature; Photo: © L. Lee Grismer.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

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