PHNOM PENH, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A new species of bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus phnomchiensis) has been found at the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary in Cambodia, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences said in a press release issued late on Monday.
The species was discovered by Wild Earth Allies Biologist Thy Neang during Wild Earth Allies field surveys in June-July 2019 on an isolated mountain named Phnom Chi in the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary when he encountered an unusual species of bent-toed gecko, the press release said.
"It was an extremely unexpected discovery. No one thought there were undescribed species in Prey Lang," Neang said.
Researchers have named the species Cyrtodactylus phnomchiensis after Phnom Chi mountain where it was found.
Bent-toed geckos of the genus Cyrtodactylus are one of the most species-diverse genera of gekkonid lizards, with 292 recognized species, the press release said, adding that much of the diversity within Cyrtodactylus has been described only during the past decade and from mainland Southeast Asia, and many of these newly recognized species are thought to have extremely narrow geographic ranges.
Phnom Chi consists of an isolated small mountain of rocky outcrops and a few associated smaller hills, altogether encompassing an area of approximately 4,464 hectares in Kampong Thom and Kratie Provinces within the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary in Cambodia.
"This exciting discovery adds another reptile species to science for Cambodia and the world. It also highlights the global importance of Cambodia's biodiversity and illustrates the need for future exploration and biological research in Prey Lang," said Neang.
Neang's co-author Bryan Stuart of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences said, "His discovery underscores how much unknown biodiversity remains out there in unexpected places. Clearly, Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary is important for biodiversity and deserves attention."
