A biological treasure trove

Extra Terrestrial

/ ©: Jodi J. L. Rowley/Australian Museum
A visually stunning ‘yin-yang’ frog (Leptobrachium leucops), just one of five new amphibian species discovered in the region in 2011.
© Jodi J. L. Rowley/Australian Museum
126 species new to science in 2011
A new bat named after its devilish appearance, a subterranean blind fish, a ruby-eyed pit viper, and a frog that sings like a bird are among the 126 species newly identified by scientists in the Greater Mekong region in 2011, and described in a new WWF report, Extra Terrestrial. Read more
► Find out about the flagship species WWF works to protect in the Greater Mekong region, as well as others that are critical to the integrity of ecosystems

Wild Mekong

/ ©: L. Lee Grismer
A new psychedelic gecko (Cnemaspis psychedelica) species was discovered in 2010 on Hon Khoai Island, Ca Mau Province, Ngoc Hien District, 18 km off the southern tip of the Ca Mu Peninsula in southern Vietnam.
© L. Lee Grismer
208 species new to science in 2010
A new monkey, a self-cloning skink, five carnivorous plants, and a unique leaf warbler are among the 208 species newly described by science in the Greater Mekong region in 2010 and highlighted in the latest WWF report, Wild Mekong. Read more

New Blood

/ ©: Natural History Museum, London
Dracula fish (Danionella Dracula) is one of the 145 species newly described by science in the Greater Mekong during 2009.
© Natural History Museum, London
145 new species described in 2009
A seven meter tall carnivorous plant, a fish with vampire fangs, and a frog that sounds like a cricket are among 145 new species described last year in the Greater Mekong, reaffirming the region as one of the most significant biological hotspots on the planet ahead of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Nagoya, Japan, October 2010. Read more...

Close Encounters

/ ©: Thomas Ziegler / WWF Greater Mekong
Cat Ba leopard gecko (Goniurosaurus catbaensis) 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.
© Thomas Ziegler / WWF Greater Mekong
163 species new to science in 2008
This report highlights the extraordinary discovery of 163 new species in the Greater Mekong region in 2008 alone. This report was launched in September 2009 prior to the UN climate change talks in Bangkok, highlighting what could be lost if the threat of climate change is not urgently addressed. Read more...

First Contact

The Gumprechts Green Pitviper is but one of 1068 new species discovered in the Greater Mekong in ... / ©: Rene Ries
Gumprechts green pitviper Trimeresurus gumprechti 2002 found Greater Mekong wide except Cambodia
© Rene Ries
Over 1000 new species discoveries between 1997-2007
Launched in December 2008, this was WWF Greater Mekong's first new species report making worldwide headlines announcing the discovery of 1068 new species in the Greater Mekong between 1997 and 2007. Read more...

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Photos and graphics © WWF or used with permission. Text available under a Creative Commons licence.