PREVIEW

BY MARK WORGAN

A series of newly identified species has been uncovered in Cambodia’s unexplored limestone cave systems - including a spectacular turquoise viper.

The report reveals a wealth of previously unknown wildlife in karst landscapes in Battambang Province, where researchers explored more than 60 caves across ten hills. Among the discoveries were several species entirely new to science, including the snake, geckos, micro-snails, and millipedes.

The survey, led by Fauna & Flora in collaboration with Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment and field experts, confirmed three new gecko species, two micro-snails and two millipedes. A further three geckos and a new pit viper are still being formally described.

Among the most notable finds are the newly identified turquoise viper from the Trimeresurus genus, recognised for its venom, triangular head and heat-sensing ability used to detect prey. Several gecko species were also recorded, including the Kamping Poi bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus kampingpoiensis), which researchers believe may represent multiple distinct species due to the isolation of the caves.

Sothearen Thi, Karst Biodiversity Coordinator at Fauna & Flora, comments: “Cambodia’s karst areas are a treasure trove of scientific secrets waiting to be uncovered. From undiscovered reptiles and snails, to hidden caves – there is still so much we do not know about these unique ecosystems and the diversity of creatures living within them.”

Researchers say that while karst environments are still relatively unexplored, they are proving to be among the most biologically diverse habitats on Earth, often harbouring species found nowhere else.

Dr Lee Grismer, a professor at La Sierra University who supported the survey, adds: “Battambang is composed of isolated karstic hills and caves; each acting as its own laboratory of natural selection and evolution. Think of it as their own vignette of biodiversity, where nature is performing the same experiment over and over again independently.

“We go to these separate places and analyse the DNA of the species, and we see how the experiment has run. Some look alike, some look different, and by analysing this we can get an idea of what the driving forces are behind the way they evolve. If we are truly going to conserve the biodiversity on this planet, we need to understand what is there. We can’t protect something if we don’t know it exists.”

The findings highlight the importance of karst ecosystems - landscapes formed of limestone hills and caves - which often act as isolated “islands” of evolution, allowing unique species to develop independently.

The survey also confirmed the presence of threatened animals in the region, including the Sunda pangolin, Indochinese silvered langur, long-tailed macaque and green peafowl.
Despite their ecological and cultural significance, karst habitats remain largely unprotected and face threats from quarrying, tourism, wildfires, logging and hunting.