Rainbow 'Ziggy Stardust' snake among new Mekong delta discoveries
- Published
The spectacularly-coloured reptile, discovered in Laos, was featured in an annual report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) charity. The report likens the snake to David Bowie's iconic character Ziggy Stardust.
Scientist Alexandre Teynié and his team came across the snake which was perched on a mossy rock. “We approached with shock, bringing to mind all known species in Asia that it may resemble but there was no match,” he said.
A tiny orange-eyed frog, measuring less than 3cm long, was also discovered in the small rocky streams of north-eastern Cambodia.
In neighbouring Thailand, a total of 32 new species like this brightly-coloured newt were found this year.
This medium-sized lizard with dragon-like horns was discovered in the jungles of Phuket, a popular tourist destination in Thailand. The harmless beast was seen hunting insects in a tree.
This is the 'Klingon Newt'. Measuring between 6cm and 7cm, it is only the fourth newt species found to exist in Thailand.
Among the discoveries was also this fearsome-looking, woolly bat from the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
The Greater Mekong region also includes Myanmar and south-eastern China. It is often described as one of the most ecologically-diverse regions on earth.
But there are fears that many species will die out before they are ever discovered by scientists, as the illegal wildlife trade remains rampant in the region.