A breathtaking exploration above the limestone cliffs and deep into the cave systems they contain has revealed several new species of reptiles, including the incredibly dazzling pit viper.
The expedition, which explored more than 60 caves across 10 hills in western Cambodia’s Battambang province, uncovered a treasure trove of incredible creatures found nowhere else on Earth.
The study was led by Fauna and Flora International in collaboration with the Cambodian Ministry of Environment and experts in the field. In addition to pit vipers, the research team also identified six new geckos, two micro snails, and two millipedes.
It was also confirmed that the landscape around the cave was home to a number of endangered species, including the Sunda pangolin, Indochinese langur, long-tailed macaque, and blue peafowl, further highlighting the critical need to protect this habitat.
Karst makes up 20% of Earth’s landforms. This soluble rock formation made of limestone has created some of the most spectacular rocky landscapes on Earth. These include the shape of an overturned egg carton along the great South China Karst, Halong Bay in Vietnam, Tsingy de Bemarach in Madagascar, the Burren in western Ireland, the world’s largest spring source at Brelo Bühne in Bosnia, a cenote in Mexico’s Yucatan, and Mammoth Cave in the United States.
Karsts are easily eroded by rainfall, carving them into a million beautiful and dramatic shapes, often creating microclimates where endangered animals can thrive.
Dr. Lee Grismer, a professor of biology at La Sierra University in the US, was part of the expedition team and spoke to F&F about the importance and uniqueness of this landscape.
“Each of these isolated karst areas acts as its own little laboratory where nature independently repeats the same experiment over and over again. The result is a species that exists nowhere else in the world, nowhere else in the country, and certainly not in other caves.”
In fact, many of the caves that readily exist within karst landscapes, and many of the world’s longest, largest, and least explored cave systems, are found in East and Southeast Asia.
This was certainly the case in Battambang, where the research team had to first climb the steep, forested slopes of a karst outcrop and then clamber and squeeze through cracks and crawl spaces to reach the cave system.
Inside, a wealth of life was recorded, both endemic to the cave and other creatures such as a large reticulated python that had just been visiting. As the chatter of a herd of endangered golden langurs faded into the background, the team began encountering animals still unexplained by science.
A stunning new species of pit viper ( 3 months genus) were collected during the survey and are currently being described. Identified by its triangular head, this highly venomous snake uses heat-sensitive holes behind its nostrils to track its warm-blooded prey.
Four populations of the banded campin poi benthed gecko have been discovered and identified as new species. Siltodactylus campinpoiensis. Despite being described as just one species, the geographical isolation of the karst formations means that these four populations are thought to have followed separate evolutionary trajectories, and further genetic analysis may reveal whether they are actually four species rather than one.
Another new species of gecko is named after Shiva, the Hindu goddess of destruction.
Also check out: Park officials are delighted when a trail camera captures a rare gaur, the world’s largest cow that lives in the forest.
Fauna and Flora International said in a statement that it is working with local partners to support the conservation of Cambodia’s karst landscapes, as exemplified by the recent publication of guidelines for the sustainable development and management of cave ecosystems.
The guidelines integrate international best practices and the Cambodian context and provide practical measures to protect bat colonies, conserve rare and unique cave biodiversity, promote sustainable guano harvesting, and ensure responsible tourism development.
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“Cambodia’s karst regions are a treasure trove of scientific secrets waiting to be unraveled,” Sosiaren Thi, karst biodiversity coordinator at Fauna & Flora, said in a statement.
“But without sustainable management, we may never find out what these areas really are. Karst landscapes face many anthropogenic challenges, and biologically important species may become extinct before they are discovered. We are working with the Cambodian government and local partners to strengthen protection of the landscape, making sustainable management a top priority.”
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