"An extraordinary 367 new species were discovered in the Greater Mekong in 2012 and 2013. Among the species newly described by scientists are
290 plants, 24 fish, 21 amphibians, 28 reptiles, 1 bird and 3 mammals". WWF
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| Cambodian Tailorbird (Orthotomus chaktomuk). ©James Eaton |
"In
2013, a new bird species was described by scientists hiding in plain
sight in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh. The Cambodian Tailorbird
(Orthotomus chaktomuk), as the new species is called, is a small,
light and dark grey bird, with an orange-red tuft on its head, about
the size of a Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes). The species is
likely confined to dense shrub habitat in the floodplain of the
Mekong river on the edge of the city. The dense shrub habitat allowed
it to remain undetected for so long despite living on the outskirts
of a major city". WWF
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| Zebra-striped Lizard (Cyrtodactylus phuketensis). ©Montri Sumontha |
"The Greater Mekong region is home to a vast variety of wildlife and
spectacular natural landscapes. More than 1,300 new species have been
cataloged in the region since 1997". WWF
Read the Mysterious Mekong report.
