4 days ago
Pregnant creature with ‘large' golden eyes found in Cambodia. It's a new species
On a rock formation in western Cambodia, a pregnant creature with a 'long' tail went about its afternoon. Its 'large' golden eyes scanned the surrounding landscape, but it wasn't the only one looking around.
Passing scientists noticed the patterned animal — and discovered a new species.
A team of researchers visited several 'unexplored' rock formations in Banan District in March 2024 to survey amphibians and reptiles, according to a study published June 4 in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys. The team suspected these hills might hold thus far undocumented biodiversity, and they were right.
During their surveys, researchers found dozens of unfamiliar-looking lizards, the study said. Intrigued, they took a closer look at the animals, analyzed their DNA and realized they'd discovered a new species: Cyrtodactylus kampingpoiensis, or the Kamping Poi bent-toed gecko.
Kamping Poi bent-toed geckos have 'long' bodies and 'long' tails, reaching about 7 inches in total length, the study said. Their heads are 'somewhat flattened' with 'large' golden eyes. Their fingers and toes are 'bent' with 'well-developed' claws.
Photos show the brown coloring of the new species, which varies in hue and detail but has a relatively consistent pattern. Dark brown bands run across its back, each one 'slightly wavy-edged' and lined 'with bright-white' bumps, researchers said.
Some geckos have higher contrast in their coloring, while others appear more faded. Some geckos have an almost black and white pattern on their tails, photos show.
Kamping Poi bent-toed geckos live on rocky karst hills at elevations of around 300 to 800 feet, the study said. The geckos were found on rocks, in or around caves, at the bases of trees and on the ground.
During their visits, researchers saw young geckos, or hatchlings, fully grown adult geckos and a few pregnant geckos, indicating the new species breeds in March.
Researchers said they named the new species after Phnom Kamping Poi, the rocky hill where it was first discovered.
Kamping Poi bent-toed geckos were found at four nearby but isolated hills in the Banan District, the study said. These four populations showed some variation in looks and had minor DNA differences, but researchers concluded they weren't quite unique enough to be described as separate species.
Banan District is in western Cambodia and near the border with Thailand. Cambodia also borders Laos and Vietnam.
The new species was identified by its scale pattern, size, body proportions, toe shape, finger pads, coloring and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 5% genetic divergence from other related species.
The research team included Evan Quah, L. Lee Grismer, Pablo Sinovas, Phyroum Chourn, Sophea Chhin, Seiha Hun, Anthony Cobos, Peter Geissler, Christian Ching, Matthew Murdoch, Sothearen Thi, Jeren Gregory, Eddie Nguyen, Alexis Hernandez, Amanda Kaatz and Jesse Grismer.
