New mole species discovered in Pu Luong Nature Reserve

A new mole species was discovered in Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Thanh Hoa province - Photo: Provided by Pu Luong Nature Reserve

On the afternoon of October 14, speaking with Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. Le Dinh Phuong - Director of Pu Luong Nature Reserve - said that the new mole species has the scientific name Euroscaptor darwini - Darwin's mole, the species name is named after the eminent naturalist Charles Darwin - whose fundamental contributions to evolutionary biology have profoundly influenced modern taxonomy and the understanding of speciation.

The new mole species is currently known only from its type locality in Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Thanh Hoa province, in the North Central region of Vietnam.

All known specimens were collected along a densely forested elevation survey line on the southwestern slopes of the Pu Luong mountain range, at altitudes ranging from 900 m to 1,100 m above sea level.

The new mole species is clearly distinguished from other members of the genus by its extremely short tail; it protrudes only slightly above the skin surface, measuring less than 2 mm.

The tail of this species is completely covered with short, sparse, stiff hairs, gradually lengthening towards the distal end, reaching a length about twice that of the tail below.

The newt's tail consists of only six or seven caudal vertebrae, significantly fewer than that of other Euroscaptor species.

This study shows that in Pu Luong Nature Reserve there are still many mysteries about biodiversity that need to be further explored in the future.

The research is the result of cooperation between the Institute of Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi National University, Hong Duc University (Thanh Hoa) and Pu Luong Nature Reserve.

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, Phu Le.

In this nature reserve there are 908 species of animals and 1,597 species of plants.

This is also the place that has been developing the most eco-tourism industry in Thanh Hoa province with the brand name "Pu Luong".

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HA DONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/phat-hien-loai-chuot-chui-moi-o-khu-bao-ton-thien-nhien-pu-luong-20251014162725717.htm