{"id":2190602,"date":"2026-04-04T18:00:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T16:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2190602"},"modified":"2026-03-27T13:30:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T12:30:58","slug":"secrets-of-the-karst-new-species-found-in-cambodias-limestone-caves-in-pictures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/secrets-of-the-karst-new-species-found-in-cambodias-limestone-caves-in-pictures\/","title":{"rendered":"Secrets of the karst: new species found in Cambodia\u2019s limestone caves \u2013 in pictures"},"content":{"rendered":"

A survey has revealed the vast array of wildlife \u2013 some never seen before \u2013 living within the south-east Asian country\u2019s karst ecosystems.<\/p>\n

The work was led by international wildlife conservation charity Fauna & Flora in collaboration with Cambodia\u2019s environment ministry and field experts<\/p>\n

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The survey team, led by international wildlife conservation charity Fauna & Flora, explored more than 60 caves across 10 hills in Battambang province, western Cambodia.Photograph: Manita Hem\/Fauna & Flora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>
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Phnom Laang Spean cave in Battambang province, amid a karst landscape formed of rocky limestone hills and caverns. The habitat features a number of unique characteristics caused by the dissolving of the rock, including large cave springs, sinkholes and sinking streams.Photograph: Phyroum Chourn\/Fauna & Flora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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Two of the researchers at the mouth of one of the caves: Dr Lee Grismer of La Sierra University in the US, and behind him, Dr Evan Quah of University Malaysia Sabah.Photograph: Fauna & Flora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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A spectacular new species of pit viper (from the\u00a0Trimeresurus\u00a0genus) was found during the survey and is being described. These highly venomous snakes track down their warm-blooded prey using the heat-sensitive pits behind their nostrils.Photograph: Fauna & Flora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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A new species of gecko in the\u00a0Gehyra\u00a0genus now being described was found in several karst areas in Banan district, Battambang province.Photograph: Hun Seiha\/Fauna & Flora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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Another species discovered during the survey, the Battambang leaf-toed gecko \u2013\u00a0Dixonius noctivagus\u00a0(meaning \u2018night wanderer\u2019) \u2013 is covered in tiny leopard-like spots. Only two species of the\u00a0Dixonius\u00a0gecko genus have been identified in Cambodia, far fewer than in neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam, which indicates it is likely that further undiscovered species exist in the landscape.Photograph: Hun Seiha\/Fauna & Flora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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Four populations of the striped Kamping Poi bent-toed gecko were found and identified as a new species:\u00a0Cyrtodactylus kampingpoiensis. Despite being described as one species, it is thought that, due to the isolation of the karst formations, these four populations are separate in evolutionary terms, and further genetic analyses may establish whether they are four different species rather than just one.Photograph: Phyroum Chourn\/Fauna & Flora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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Named after the Hindu god of destruction, the karst-dwelling gecko shiva was recently discovered in Thailand and only described in February 2025. The survey team found it in Battambang, the first recorded in Cambodia.Photograph: Phyroum Chourn\/Fauna & Flora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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One of two millipede species collected during the survey (this one was discovered in Battambang in 2024), the vivid colouring of the\u00a0Orthomorpha battambangiensis\u00a0probably indicates that these millipedes are poisonous or, at the very least, unappetising for potential predators.Photograph: Fauna & Flora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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A reticulated python in Phnom Preak, Battambang province. This python species, native to south and south-east Asia, is the world\u2019s longest snake with many specimens measuring in excess of seven metres.Photograph: Phyroum Chourn\/Fauna & Flora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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The brown tree frog, also known as the Hong Kong whipping frog, found in the Phnom Prampi cave in Battambang province, a designated natural heritage site. The frog gets its name from the way the female uses her back legs to whip up foam before making a nest for her eggs.Photograph: Phyroum Chourn\/Fauna & Flora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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The ornate flying snake (Chrysopelea ornata) \u2013 also known as the golden tree snake \u2013 glides from tree to tree by flattening its rib cage and twisting through the air like a shimmering ribbon. Its vivid colouring makes it popular among collectors.Photograph: Phyroum Chourn\/Fauna & Flora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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Researchers Sothearen Thi and Phyroum Chourn at work during a nocturnal herpetology survey in Cambodia\u2019s karst habitat.Photograph: Manita Hem\/Fauna & Flora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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The survey team in the karst landscape of Battambang province, western Cambodia.Photograph: Phyroum Chourn\/Fauna & Flora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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The survey team, from left: Sothearen Thi, Dr Sophea Chhin, Matthew Murdoch, Christian Ching, Anthony Cobos, Dr Lee Grismer, Phyroum Chourn, Pablo Sinovas, Dr Evan Quah and Hun Seiha.Photograph: Fauna & Flora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

This article<\/a> was first published by The Guardian on 23 March 2026. Lead Image: A spectacular new species of pit viper (from the Trimeresurus genus) was collected during the survey of Phnom Prampi in Battambang. Photograph: Fauna & Flora.
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