‘Leaf-toed’ creatures lurking near mountain road discovered as new species in Vietnam
Emerging from the forest, a “leaf-toed” creature sat near a mountain highway in Vietnam. Scientists passing through spotted the small animal — and discovered a new species.
The researchers were conducting a survey of amphibians and reptiles in several southeast Asian regions, according to a study published May 23 in the journal ZooKeys. Their research led them into the mountains of Gia Lai province on a hot night.
Along the roadside, the researchers spotted three small lizards, the study said. They collected the specimens, took a closer look and discovered a new species of gecko.
The new species was named Dixonius gialaiensis or the Gialai leaf-toed gecko after the area where it was discovered, researchers said. The highway area was part of a protected forest and surrounded by “montane forest.”
The Gialai leaf-toed gecko can reach just under 6 inches in size and has rows of bumpy spikes running down its back, the study said. Photos show several specimens of the new lizard species.
Male Gialai leaf-toed geckos have an olive greenish-brown color with a pattern of black blotches, photos show. Females have a lighter tan-orange body with dark brown blotches. Photos show how the female’s coloring appears to blend in well with the surrounding leaf.
The new species was identified as morphologically distinct based on its body proportions and coloring, the study said.
Genetic analysis also confirmed the Gialai leaf-toed geckos as a new species, the study said. DNA analysis found the gecko had anywhere from 3.6% to about 15.7% genetic variation from other known species.
Researchers noted that more information on the conservation status of the Gialai leaf-toed gecko is “urgently required to develop effective conservation measures.”
The research team included Vinh Quang Luu, Thuong Huyen Nguyen, Minh Duc Le, Jesse L. Grismer, Hong Bich Ha, Saly Sitthivong, Tuoi Thi Hoang and L. Lee Grismer. During their research, they also discovered a new species of gecko in Laos, the study said.
“The discovery of these new species further emphasizes the underappreciated herpetological diversity of the (leaf-toed gecko) and illustrates the continued need for field work in these regions,” the researchers said.
Gai Lia province is in south-central Vietnam, about 300 miles northeast of Ho Chi Minh City and along the Vietnam-Cambodia border.
This story was originally published May 25, 2023 at 1:41 PM with the headline "‘Leaf-toed’ creatures lurking near mountain road discovered as new species in Vietnam."
