Vietnamese scientists have just announced the discovery of a new lizard species in Va Cave, a cave located in the core zone of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, in Tan Trach Commune, Bo Trach District (Quang Binh).
Hang Va is located in the core zone of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park.
Accordingly, the new lizard species has the scientific name Cyrtodactylus hangvaensis. This species is called Va cave-fingered lizard, because they were the first and only discovered so far in Va cave.
The Va cave lizard was discovered and described by Vietnamese experts in a biodiversity research project at Son Doong Cave, led by Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Lien, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Museum of Nature.
Va Cave-toed lizard, a new species discovered in Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park.
It is known that the research team accidentally discovered the Va Cave Lizard clinging to the cliff when night fell. They are nearly 13cm in size with large eyes and a triangular head. This is the fourth species of lizard discovered in the World Natural Heritage Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park.
Previously, in mid-June 2024, an exploration team from a travel company based in Bo Trach district discovered a group of strange creatures in Hung Cave, a cave located in the strictly protected area of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park.
Strange creatures were discovered by the expedition team living in Hung cave.
According to the expedition team, this creature was found scattered about 300m from the cave entrance, on the surface of stalactites. It was observed that this creature has a main body of opaque white color, many branches branching out from the base, similar to a starfish. The branches extend in many directions with a length of about a few centimeters. Above is a secondary body consisting of many tendrils about a span high. These tendrils are white and can stretch.
In the cave area of several dozen square meters, the expedition team found about 40 - 50 of these creatures scattered around. The core area of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park has many caves, but the expedition team only discovered this creature in Hung Cave.
Observations show that this creature has a opaque white main body, with many branches branching out from the base, similar to a starfish.
"We sent images of this creature to professional cave exploration groups but no one has ever seen it. It is possible that this is a new species in the core zone of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and needs more in-depth research," said Mr. Le Luu Dung, director of Jungle Boss Company Limited.
Mr. Nguyen Van Long, Head of the Quang Binh Provincial Forest Protection Department, said that during his work, he had never seen this creature. The unit will send images of this creature to experts for consultation.
Also during the process of exploring caves in the core area of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, the expedition team discovered a giant lake, located high on the wall of Thung Cave. This is one of the pristine caves, located deep in the strictly protected area of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park.
The expedition team discovered a giant lake, located high on the wall of Thung Cave.
This lake has a surface area of about 100m2, surrounded by stalactites, located about 1km from the cave entrance. What is special is that the lake is about 15m higher than the underground river in the cave, so it looks like it is "hanging" suspended on the cave wall. Because of this, the survey team temporarily named the lake "Lô Lùng" (Suspended Lake).
The expedition team has yet to find the source of the lake’s water. According to initial surveys, the lake may be more than 10 meters deep. When the water receded, the expedition team discovered a stalactite that seemed to have been dropped from the cave ceiling, floating on the lake’s surface.
The expedition team has yet to find the lake's water inlet and outlet.
Hung Thoong Cave System is one of the wild, unique and special places with many caves located deep in the strictly protected area, belonging to Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, surrounded by a system of million-year-old limestone mountains and primeval forests.
The only way to access these caves is to walk along the trails in the forest. In early 2023, the People's Committee of Quang Binh province allowed the pilot exploitation of the "Discovering Hung Thoong" tour.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is home to an extremely diverse and rich flora and fauna system with 2,953 plant species and 1,394 animal species recorded. Of these, 43 species are newly discovered for science and many are rare species, indicator species for the forest ecosystem on limestone mountains.
It is known that in August 2024, scientists will have a specific report to the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Management Board on the topic of biodiversity research in Son Doong Cave.
Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/nhung-bi-an-moi-duoc-phat-lo-trong-cac-chuyen-tham-hiem-hang-dong-o-phong-nha-169240728145706594.htm
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