‘Chocolate’ creature found on tourist island is a new species in Vietnam. See it
Hon Tre Island, or Bamboo Island, is a hidden gem of the Vietnam tourism industry.
Pristine beaches and luscious rainforest make it the perfect stop for travelers looking for beautiful panoramic views and an escape into nature.
But while one side of the island is home to dazzling resorts and white sand, the other end is still wild — and home to a new species.
During recent fieldwork on Hon Tre, researchers collected nine geckos belonging to the genus Cyrtodactylus, or bent-toed geckos, according to a study published Sept. 24 in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys.
The geckos didn’t look like other species that had been identified, researchers said, and genetic analysis confirmed the experts’ suspicions that the geckos belonged to a new species.
The gecko is medium-sized, about 3 inches head to butt, with a “very long” tail that adds another 4 inches to its total length, according to the study.
It has a “moderately slender” body with “slender and long” limbs, researchers said, with distinct toes.
The gecko is “chocolate brown” with “dark reticulated markings” on its back, limbs and tail but with a cream-colored belly and underside, according to the study.
It was named Cyrtodactylus arnei, or the Arne bent-toed gecko.
“The new species is named after Dr. Arne Schulze, Executive Director of the Zoological Society for Conservation of Species and Populations to honor his great commitment and support for herpetological research and conservation in Vietnam, in particular within the scope of the Zoo Species of the Year — The Gecko Conservation Campaign 2024,” researchers said.
The Arne bent-toed gecko was found in the evening on rocky boulders and near the mouth of a small cave that sat along a stream, according to the study.
The area surrounding the cave is a forest of small hardwood trees and shrubs, researchers said.
C. arnei is the fifth species of its genus to be found in this province of Vietnam, according to the study.
Hon Tre Island is considered a small island, researchers said, and is located just a mile off the coast of the city of Nha Trang in southeastern Vietnam.
“The island has recently become a popular tourist destination, and rapid tourism development will likely negatively impact the surrounding ecosystems,” researchers said. “Therefore, there is an urgent need for further studies to provide a better understanding of the new species’ population status, distribution range and anthropogenic (human-caused) threats.”
The research team includes Quyen Hanh Do, Hanh Thi Ngo, Truong Quang Nguyen, Minh Duc Le, Thomas Ziegler, Dang Trong Do and Cuong The Pham.
