From CNN.
Scientists in the Mekong Delta region are calling it a “treasure trove” of new and rare creatures after discovering 1,068 new species and catching a glimpse of a rat thought to have gone extinct 11 million years ago. These findings are part of a report published this week by the World Wildlife Fund. All of the more than 1,000 species were discovered in the Mekong Delta area between 1997 and 2007.
new rabbit species called nesolagus timminsi
The Laotian Rock Rat was believed to have gone extinct 11 million years ago. A scientist on the trip noticed one while visiting an outdoor restaurant.
The Laotian Rock Rat
Saving the best for last, here’s a picture of the Dragon Millipede. It produces cyanide when threatened and, as you can tell, is a conspicuous shade of pink.
The Dragon Millipede, or Desmoxytes purpurosea
Not the Mekong Delta! That’s just a relatively small delta region at the end of the river in Vietnam. The origins are in Tibet, then the river goes through southern China, Laos, a little bit of Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and finally Vietnam.
WWF has dubbed a very large area the “Greater Mekong Region.” It’s really stretching the term because they seem to be counting anything found in Yunnan Province and the smaller countries. If a species is found hundreds of miles from the Mekong, with other waterways in between …jeez, I dunno, but it’s misleading.
WWF is great at getting publicity but a science commentator should strive to be more precise, not less, I think,
Thank you kindly Susan. I always enjoy a good lecture.
I hope you’ll excuse me if I don’t change any of the language in this piece however, as I feel more comfortable relying on the terms used in the original CNN article rather than trusting some random person leaving a comment on this humble blog. Good day.