PHNOM PENH, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- A new species of gecko, Hemiphyllodactylus khpoh, has been classified as a new species by scientists after being found in a karstic hill in western Cambodia, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment said on Thursday.
Khvay Atitya, who is also an undersecretary of state for the Ministry of Environment, said the slender gecko was spotted during a collaborative study between Fauna & Flora's Cambodia team, Ministry of Environment staff and a group of expert herpetologists led by La Sierra University.
This new species of gekkonid lizard is described from Phnom Khpoh, an isolated karstic hill within an extensive karstic archipelago in Battambang province, he said.
"The species was later confirmed as a new species based on morphological and molecular data, as well as its isolation from other geckos in this genus," Atitya said.
"Just one Hemiphyllodactylus khpoh was spotted during the survey, meaning it is currently difficult to estimate the species' population or conservation status," he added.
The discovery highlighted the rich but understudied biodiversity of karstic landscapes, emphasizing the need for continued research in the extensive unexplored karstic archipelago of western Cambodia. ■
