tech
I discovered three new geckos in Cambodia’s limestone caves
The whole ecosystem inside a cave feeds off guano, dead bats, or any dead animals on the ground. It’s not for the faint-hearted
TL;DR
- A team of 20 international experts surveyed over 60 caves in Cambodia's Battambang province.
- The expedition discovered three new gecko species, two micro-snails, and two millipedes, with potential for more species identification.
- Karst landscapes, formed by water erosion of limestone, create isolated 'island laboratories' where species evolve uniquely.
- Species in these isolated habitats can become distinct over thousands or millions of years, with even a kilometer acting as a barrier.
- The discoveries were made during night surveys when animals are most active.
- New species are described through detailed morphological analysis and genetic testing.
- There is an urgent need to protect these karst ecosystems, which are threatened by high demand for cement, potentially leading to species extinction before they are even described.
- The exploration for knowledge aims to showcase the importance of protecting these unique creatures that exist nowhere else.