On November 27, Mr. Le Dinh Phuong, Director of Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Thanh Hoa province, said that according to field survey results from 2016 - 2024, scientists recorded that the reserve has an extremely diverse ecosystem, with hundreds of species of amphibians and reptiles.
A frog species with a strange body shape was recorded in Pu Luong.
According to Mr. Phuong, scientists have recorded a total of 103 species, including 40 amphibian species belonging to 8 families, 25 genera and 63 reptile species belonging to 14 families, 43 genera. Of which, there are 4 species that have never appeared in Thanh Hoa .
Specifically, 4 species were recorded for the first time in Thanh Hoa province including: Linh Nam gourd frog (Occidozyga lingnanica); Orlov dwarf frog (Vietnamophryne orlovi); Denny tree frog (Zhangixalus dennysi) and short-tailed ground dragon (Pseudocalotes brevipes.
Notable are the Linh Nam gourd frog, a round-bodied, smooth-skinned frog that makes a strange sound; the Orlov dwarf frog, which is only as small as a fingertip but has a very unique camouflage color; the Denny tree frog, which often hides on high layers of leaves, with bright eyes that stand out at night; and especially the short-tailed dragon, a creature with a strange shape, resembling an "ancient lizard".
Short-tailed dragon recorded for the first time in Thanh Hoa
In addition to the species recorded for the first time in Thanh Hoa, Pu Luong also recorded 30 species found for the first time in the reserve such as: Nam Dong toad, Pasmans patterned toad, python, king cobra, big-headed turtle, mountain turtle...
The species is found mainly in less disturbed secondary forests where moisture, leaf litter and suitable habitat are retained.
Big-headed turtle, an endemic species in Pu Luong
Pu Luong Nature Reserve has a total area of 16,986 hectares, located in 5 highland communes of Thanh Hoa province including: Pu Luong, Co Lung, Hoi Xuan, Phu Xuan and Phu Le. Pu Luong has a very high conservation value, demonstrated by being the habitat of many endangered and rare species with 20 species listed in the Vietnam Red Book (2024), including 4 critically endangered species (CR) and 4 endangered species (EN), 13 species in the red list (IUCN -2024), 9 species in the CITES convention (2023)... with typical representatives such as big-headed turtles (CR), yellow-fronted box turtles (CR), king cobras (CR) and Pasmans toadfish (EN).
However, the populations of these species are facing many threats such as cattle grazing in the forest and hunting for meat, medicine and the pet trade. Scientists warn that without tighter protection, many newly discovered species could quickly disappear again.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/loai-ech-ky-di-xuat-hien-tai-mot-khu-rung-o-thanh-hoa-196251127113912071.htm
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