HANOI - From a devilish-looking bat to a frog that sings like a bird, scientists have identified 126 new species in the Greater Mekong area, the WWF says in a new report detailing discoveries in 2011.
But from forest loss to the construction of major hydropower projects on the Mekong River, existing threats to the region's biodiversity mean many of the new species are already struggling to survive, the conservation group warned on Tuesday.
Blue skink (Larutia nubisilvicola)
"The good news is new discoveries. The bad news is that it is getting harder and harder in the world of conservation and environmental sustainability," Nick Cox, manager of WWF-Greater Mekong's Species Programme, told AFP.
Some 126 species were newly recorded last year in the Greater Mekong region, which consists of Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan.
Some, such as the Beelzebub tube-nosed bat discovered in Vietnam, depend on tropical forests for survival and so are especially vulnerable to deforestation.
In just four decades, 30 percent of the Greater Mekong's forests have disappeared, the report says.
Others, such as a short-tailed python species found in Myanmar are more at risk from illegal hunting for meat, skins, and the exotic pet trade, the report said.
Sweet singing frog (Gracixalus Quangi)
"Poaching for the illegal wildlife trade poses one of the greatest threats to the existence of many species across Southeast Asia," Cox said in a statement accompanying the report.
The list, dominated by plants, included 21 reptiles and five amphibians, such as a frog that sings and another that has black and white eye patterns that look like yin and yang symbols.
The WWF said that while the number of new species discovered was testament to the region's astounding biodiversity, there had been some "worrying developments" that posed a threat to their future.
WWF singled out Laos' determination to construct the Xayaburi dam on the main stream of the Mekong River as a significant threat to the river's "extraordinary biodiversity" and the livelihoods of more than 60 million people.
Ruby-eyed pit viper (Trimeresurus rubeus)
"The Mekong River supports levels of aquatic biodiversity second only to the Amazon River," according to Cox.
"The Xayaburi dam would prove an impassable barrier for many fish species, signalling the demise for wildlife already known and as yet undiscovered," he added.
The Mekong River supports around 850 fish species and the world's most intensive inland fishery, the report said.
Last month, Laos said it had begun work on the controversial multi-billion dollar Xayaburi dam, defying objections from environmentalists in its bid to become a regional energy hub.
'Blemish' fish: The tiny fish, which measures between 15 and 22mm, was discovered 83 km north of Surat Thani in southern Thailand
New discovery: The miniature fish has been named boraras naevus - naevus is the latin word for blemish - after the large blotch on the side of its body
Devilish: The 'Murina beelzebub' tube-nosed bat, discovered in central Vietnam, was named for its devilish appearance
Slippery customer: The 'walking catfish' was found living in freshwater streams on the island of Phu Quoc off the Vietnamese Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang
New species: While the so-called 'walking catfish' can't actually walk, it has the ability to use its pectoral fins to stay upright while it wriggles forwards using snake-like movements
Warbler: The sweet singing frog (Gracixalus Quangi) was discovered in the high-altitude forests of northern Vietnam
Eye-catching: The 'yin-yang' frog (Leptobrachium leucops) is one of five new species discovered in the Mekong Delta region last year
I have seen this news today. I like the small fish it is so colorful & I like the green frog as well it sounds like a bird!作者: register2388 時間: 2012-12-20 11:01 PM
好兇猛啊，thank you for sharing.作者: jarodling 時間: 2012-12-27 08:23 AM
OhhhThank you for sharing great photos作者: andylim22 時間: 2012-12-27 03:57 PM
wow. so great! wonder next year got any new species or not作者: kws森 時間: 2012-12-28 10:06 AM
好多爬蟲類...."作者: a5248883 時間: 2012-12-28 12:32 PM
真的好奇特作者: hamtu5168 時間: 2013-1-6 09:55 AM 標題: 陰陽眼青蛙、會走路的魚 湄公河流域驚見126新物種
[attach]1984310[/attach]
▲新物種青蛙眼睛黑白分明，像陰陽圖案。（圖／翻拍自世界自然基金會）
國際中心／綜合報導
湄公河流域發現有「陰陽眼」的青蛙！世界自然基金會「World Wide Fund for Nature 」(WWF)18日公布報告，有科學家去年在湄公河流域發現126種新物種生物，如靠自己鰭走路的魚，及眼睛呈現黑白陰陽圖案的「陰陽青蛙」(Yin-yang’frog)等，包括有21種爬行類、5種兩棲類、13種魚類及82種植物等。
第1張的魚好像沒有眼睛
Thank you for sharing great photos