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Expeditions in the Greater Mekong Reveal Dozens of New Animals

Conservation organizations have discovered dozens of new species – about three a week, on average – in the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia, including portions of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China. Here's a look at some of the most striking new species of frog, snake, lizard, bird, fish – and mammal. (8 new photos!)

By Dan Shapley

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greater mekong region, biodiversity, wwf, dawna hills, dawna range, tenasserim mountains, tenasserim hills, tenasserim range greater mekong region Wet tropical mountains and valleys like these, the Dawna-Tenasserim mountains on the Thai-Myanmar border, are fertile grounds for the discovery of species that are new to science. Heavily forested and remote, the incredible biodiversity of the region is nonetheless threatened by dam- and road-building projects, logging and agriculture, and unsustainable hunting.

Bare-faced Bulbul

bare faced bulbul, mekong species, greater mekong bare faced bulbul "Asia's only bald songbird," as WWF describes it, the bulbul was found in 2009 in Laos by the Wildlife Conservation Society and the University of Melbourne. While its karst limestone habitat may be at risk fro quarrying (it was found on a scientific expedition sponsored by Australian mining company MMG), its relatively large range and apparently strong population numbers mean it is not at risk of extinction, according to Birdlife International.

Stone-Sucking Fish

stone sucking fish, oreoglanis fish, new fish, thailand fish, mekong fish, mekong species oreoglanis stone-sucking fish Found in These new species of the Oreoglanis genus were found in rocky, fast-flowing streams all over Thailand, these Oreoglanis fish are known as "stone-sucking" fish to the locals.

Eleryi's Tube-Nosed Bat

murina eleryi bat, eleryi's tube-nosed bat, vietnam species, mekong species, greater mekong murina eleryi bat A bat first described in 2009 by scientists at the Harrison Institute, Eleryi's tube-nosed bat is native to Vietnam.

Appleby's Leaf-Litter Toad

leptolalax applebyi, asian leaf-litter toad, royal university of phnom penh, robert appleby, jodi rowley, vietnam frog, vietnam species, mekong species leptolalax applebyi asian leaf-litter toad This tiny Asian leaf-litter toad was discovered chirping beneath the leaves of a forest in central Vietnam in 2007 by Jodi Rowley, a researcher at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. Leptolalax applebyi isn't named for the American fast-food chain, but for Robert Appleby of ADM Capital Foundation, which helps fund much of Rowley's research. Appleby was reportedly flattered despite being "unsure about the resemblance".

Fangless Snake

coluberoelaps nguyenvansangi, fangless snake, mekong species, new species, new snake, vietnam species, vietnam snake fangless snake coluberoelaps nguyenvansangi Named for Nguyen Van Sang, a scientists with the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources in Hanoi, this Coluberoelaps nguyenvansangi is a fangless snake discovered in Vietnam on a 2003 WWF expedition, and described for the first time by scientists in 2009.

Oreoglanis Fish

oreoglanis vicinus, new fish, thailand fish, thailand species, mekong species oreoglanis fish Found in the upper Chao Phraya River drainage in Thailand, this is one of eight new Oreoglanis fishes discovered and described by scientists in 2009.

Gold-Ring Danio

gold ring danio, myanmar fish, mekong species, danio tinwini spotted danio fish danio tinwini Found in a northern Myanmar stream, this gold-ring danio (Danio tinwini) is a tiny addition to the list of new species. It was found by a man named Tin Win, hence its species name.

Gecko

gecko, mekong new species, wwf cnemaspis-biocellata-gecko-l-grismer-lg.jpg This gecko (Cnemaspis biocellata) is endemic to the isolated karsts of the Nakawan Range spanning the Thai-Malaysian border. This species was one of the new species discovered in the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia during 2008.

Tiger-striped pitviper

tiger-striped pitviper, mekong new species, wwf tiger-striped pitviper The tiger-striped pitviper (Cryptelytrops honsonensis) is endemic to Hon Son Island in Rach Gia Bay in the Kien Giang Province of southern Vietnam. This species was one of the new species discovered in the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia during 2008.

Wild banana

mekong new species wild banana new species This wild banana (Musa rubinea) is known only to occur in the Nujiang watershed, Cangyan County in the western Chinese province of Yunnan on the border with Myanmar. This species was one of 100 new plants discovered in the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia during 2008.

Rough-Coated Tree Frog

rough-coated tree frog, mekong new species, wwf rough-coated tree frog Rough-coated tree frog (Philautus quyeti) was discovered in Vietnam’s Truong Son mountain range. This is one of the new species discoveries found in the Greater Mekong region in 2008.

Cat Ba Leopard Gecko

cat ba leopard gecko, mekong new species, wwf cat ba leopard gecko The Cat Ba leopard gecko (Goniurosaurus catbaensis) is found exclusively in Cat Ba Island National Park in northern Vietnam. This species was one of the new species discovered in the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia during 2008.

Khorat Big-Mouthed Frog

khorat big-mouthed frog, mekong new species, wwf khorat big-mouthed frog Khorat big-mouthed frog (Limnonectes megastomias) has only been found in three isolated and remote locations in a protected area in Thailand. The frog’s fangs protrude from its bottom jawbone and it is known to be an opportunistic eater, lying and waiting for prey in streams. The species is known to eat birds as feathers were found in its feces. This species was one of the new species discovered in the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia during 2008.

Nonggang Babbler

mekong new species, Nonggang babbler, wwf new species babbler mekong The Nonggang babbler (Stachyris nonggangensis) was discovered in the karst rainforest of the Nonggang Natural Reserve, located in south Guangxi province of China near the Vietnamese border. This is the only new species of bird discovered in the Greater Mekong region in 2008.

khorat Big-Mouthed Frog

mekong new species new frog species mekong new species Khorat big-mouthed frog (Limnonectes megastomias) has only been found in three isolated and remote locations in a protected area in Thailand. The frog’s fangs protrude from its bottom jawbone and it is known to be an opportunistic eater, lying and waiting for prey in streams. The species is known to eat birds.

Oligodon deuvei

mekong new species, snake, wwf new snake species mekong new species This new snake (Oligodon deuvei) has so far been recorded in southern Vietnam and parts of Cambodia. This is one of 18 new reptiles discovered in the Greater Mekong region in 2008.

Wild Banana

mekong new species, wild banana, wwf wild banana new species This wild banana (Musa rubinea) is known only to occur in the Nujiang watershed, Cangyan County in the western Chinese province of Yunnan on the border with Myanmar. This species was one 100 new plant species discovered in the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia during 2008.

Cat Ba Leopard Gecko

mekong new species, wwf, cat ba leopard gecko cat ba leopard gecko Another shot of the Cat Ba Leopard Gecko, one of 18 new species of reptiles discovered by WWF in the Mekong region.