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Miami Herald
16-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Pregnant creature found in ‘rotting leaves' on Vietnam peak. It's a new species
As night stretched across a mountain in southern Vietnam, a pregnant creature waited under some 'rotting leaves.' But its hiding place wasn't hidden enough. Visiting scientists found the 'orange-tailed' animal — and discovered a new species. A team of researchers trekked up Tà Cú Mountain several times between 2018 and 2020 to search for wildlife. The 'isolated mountain' was already known to have three native species of lizard, so the team suspected it might have even more biodiversity, according to a study published May 14 in the peer-reviewed European Journal of Taxonomy. During their night hikes, researchers spotted some orange tails peeking out from the bushes and found several unfamiliar-looking lizards. They took a closer look at the lizards, tested their DNA and realized they'd discovered a new species: Scincella auranticaudata, or the orange-tailed ground skink. Orange-tailed ground skinks are considered 'medium'-sized, reaching about 6 inches in length, the study said. They have 'robust' bodies with 'short' snouts and yellow-tinged eyes. Photos show the coloring of the new species. Its upper body has a mixture of brown and bright orange becoming more brown toward the middle of its body then fading to pale orange on its tail. Some 'large black spots' also run down its back. Seen from below, it has a 'pink' and 'yellowish' belly. Researchers said they named the new species after the Latin words for 'orange-colored' and 'tail' because of its vibrant tail. Orange-tailed ground skinks were found at night 'on the ground among rotting leaves in evergreen forest on a mountain slope' at elevations of about 1,700 feet, researchers said. Two female skinks were found pregnant. Much about the lifestyle of orange-tailed ground skinks remains unknown. So far, the new species has only been found on Tà Cú Mountain, also spelled Ta Kou Mountain, in Bình Thuận Province of southern Vietnam and a roughly 105-mile drive east from Ho Chi Minh City. A 2021 YouTube video shared by 24 Go Somewhere shows a hike up Tà Cú Mountain. The new species was identified by its size, scale pattern, finger and toe shape, genitalia, coloring and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 9% genetic divergence from other related species. The research team included Sang Ngoc Nguyen, Luan Thanh Nguyen, Manh Van Le, Vu Dang Hoang Nguyen, Khanh Duy Phan, Thi-Dieu-Hien Vo, Robert Murphy and Jing Che. The team also discovered a second new species: the Hon Ba ground skink.
Miami Herald
14-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Black-eyed mountain creature found under debris in Vietnam. It's a new species
As night settled over a mountain in southern Vietnam, a black-eyed creature with a 'pointed' snout waited under some debris. But its hiding spot wasn't so hidden. Visiting scientists found the lurking animal — and discovered a new species. Researchers headed up Hon Ba Mountain in 2017 to survey wildlife, according to a study published May 14 in the peer-reviewed European Journal of Taxonomy. While 'removing tile debris' near the ranger station at the top of the mountain, they found an unfamiliar-looking lizard. Intrigued, researchers took a closer look at the lizard, analyzed its DNA and realized they discovered a new species: Scincella honbaensis, or the Hon Ba ground skink. The Hon Ba ground skink is considered 'relatively small,' reaching about 4 inches long, the study said. It has a 'rather compressed and slender' body with a 'relatively long and pointed' snout. Photos show the orange-brown coloring of the new species. Two rows of black spots run down its back, and its limbs look covered in white and black polka dots. Its stomach has a paler creamier hue. Much about the Hon Ba ground skink's lifestyle remains unknown. Only one skink was found at night in an 'evergreen forest with scattered rocks and thick layer of leaf litter' at an altitude of about 4,950 feet, the study said. Researchers said they named the new species after Hon Ba Mountain where it was discovered and, so far, the only place where it has been found. A 2015 YouTube video shared by Alex WelcomeTravel shows Hon Ba Mountain, which is a roughly 260-mile drive northeast from Ho Chi Minh City. The new species was identified by its scale pattern, finger and toe shape, coloring and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least about 17% genetic divergence from other related species. The research team included Sang Ngoc Nguyen, Luan Thanh Nguyen, Manh Van Le, Vu Dang Hoang Nguyen, Khanh Duy Phan, Thi-Dieu-Hien Vo, Robert Murphy and Jing Che. The team also discovered a second new species: the orange-tailed ground skink.
