Admire the newly discovered toadfish in Cao Bang, a "rare and hard to find" species

Scientists named the new species Cao Bang toadfish - after the area where the new species was recorded in Phia Oac - Phia Den National Park, Cao Bang province. This discovery was published by scientists from the Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center and colleagues in the international scientific journal Alytes.

Cao Bang toadfish has the scientific name Tylototriton koliaensis, belonging to the toadfish genus (Tylototriton). This is the 10th toadfish species discovered in Vietnam and the 42nd species in the world .

According to experts, Cao Bang toad fish are distributed at an altitude of 1,000 - 1,400m above sea level, in the Kolia Pass area and Kolia Organic Farm.

Tan muc ca coc moi phat hien o Cao Bang, loai

Newly discovered Cao Bang toadfish species. Photo: Nikolay A. Poyarkov.

Cao Bang toadfish has outstanding characteristics including: black back, dark gray belly, black limbs. The tips of the fore and hind toes, part of the soles of the limbs are bright orange, orange stripes extend along the lower edge of the tail to the end of the tail. Cao Bang toadfish individuals do not have bright orange streaks on the parotid glands or tubercles on the flanks.

The breeding season of Cao Bang toadfish is from April to July. They appear in slow-flowing streams and puddles 30 - 50 cm deep. In winter, they hide under rocks and caves during their terrestrial life stage.

Scientists have proposed to put the Cao Bang toadfish species on the World Red List, with conservation status at the endangered level due to the vulnerability of toadfish species in particular and the impact of global climate change.

According to the World Red List (February 2025), 22 species of toadfish (of the genus Tylototriton) are ranked in conservation status from vulnerable to critically endangered.