Newswise — An awe-inspiring caiman salamander from the Central Highlands of Vietnam was recently released in the global peer-reviewed open-access scholarly periodical ZooKeys.
Moreover, the detection by the Vietnamese-German scientific group, endorsed by the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and the Cologne Zoo (Germany), signifies the most southern extent of distribution documented for the genus up to now.
The natural habitat of the newfound species lies approximately 370 air km distant from the nearest Tylototriton population, rendering it a significant finding in the realms of evolution and zoogeography.
The term "ngoclinhensis" designates the specific area where the new species was discovered, Ngoc Linh Mountain. Confined to dense highland woods, the Ngoc Linh Crocodile Newt is presently identified solely within the Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve, Kon Tum Province, in Vietnam's Central Highlands. It marks the eighth amphibian classification documented in Vietnam and is the officially acknowledged thirty-ninth Tylototriton species.
The genus Tylototriton, commonly referred to as crocodile newts, encompasses approximately 40 species found in montane forests across the Asian monsoon climate zone. Notably, within the last five years, a remarkable 15 of these species have been officially documented, and there are still numerous unnamed taxa that harbor cryptic species displaying challenging morphological distinctions.
Since its establishment in 1986, Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve has emerged as a crucial biodiversity hotspot, supporting the existence of rare species such as the endangered Golden-winged Laughingthrush and the Truong Son Muntjac. According to researchers, the Ngoc Linh Crocodile Newt is anticipated to become another prominent species within this protected region and its environs, further enhancing its conservation value.
Ngoc Linh has emerged as a hotspot of amphibian diversity, boasting a significant number of species that are unique to the area. A previous study, published in the 2022 issue of the Nature Conservation journal, shed light on the remarkable rate of endemism among amphibians in Vietnam's Central Highlands. This region is recognized for harboring the highest recorded species diversity of amphibians in Vietnam, with a total of 130 species. Moreover, it contains the greatest number of micro-endemic amphibians that occur exclusively within this region, accounting for 26 species. Professor Dr. Truong Quang Nguyen, one of the authors of both the previous and current studies, as well as the vice director of the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR) in Hanoi, provides insights into this extraordinary phenomenon.
Co-author Dr. Cuong The Pham from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR) emphasizes that this recent discovery serves as yet another extraordinary example, highlighting the significant role played by the Central Highlands in the diversification and evolution of amphibians in Vietnam. The findings further underscore the unique and pivotal position of this region in shaping the amphibian fauna of the country.
The Ngoc Linh Crocodile Newt falls into the category of range-restricted micro-endemic species, which are considered at high risk of extinction due to their limited geographic range and presumed small population sizes. Unfortunately, in addition to its unique zoogeographic status and rarity, its striking and colorful appearance could make it highly desirable to illegal collectors. This poses an additional threat to the species, as it may become a target for illegal wildlife trade. Effective conservation measures and enforcement efforts will be crucial to protect this species from the pressures of illegal collection and safeguard its survival in the wild.
The researchers recommend that the Ngoc Linh Crocodile Newt be temporarily classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. It is worth noting that all species within the Tylototriton genus are already listed in the Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as well as in the Governmental Decree No. 84/2021/ND-CP of Vietnam. As a result, the new species automatically benefits from the protection provided by these regulations. These measures contribute to the conservation and management of the species by ensuring legal safeguards and restricting its international trade.
Currently, the priority lies in implementing on-site conservation activities for the Ngoc Linh Crocodile Newt. However, the research team is also simultaneously engaged in developing breeding conservation measures for the species. This approach aligns with the One Plan Approach to Conservation, which has been formulated by IUCN's Conservation Planning Specialist Group. The One Plan Approach integrates both in-situ (on-site) and ex-situ (off-site) efforts, bringing together diverse areas of expertise to ensure the most effective protection of a species. By combining these approaches, conservationists can maximize their efforts and resources to safeguard the Ngoc Linh Crocodile Newt and promote its long-term survival.
“This has already been successfully implemented for another recently discovered, micro-endemic crocodile newt species from Vietnam, Tylototriton vietnamensis, of which already more than 350 individuals could have successfully been reproduced at the Cologne Zoo in Germany and also at the Melinh Station for Biodiversity in Vietnam, which is a promising example for IUCN’s Reverse the Red campaign and the idea of the conservation zoo”,
says Prof. Dr. Thomas Ziegler, Vietnam conservation team member and coordinator from Cologne Zoo, Germany.
***
RSS