New endemic gecko species found in Binh Thuan, Vietnam

Voice of Vietnam 4 Feb 10;

A new species of gecko lizard has recently been discovered by the Ta Cu Nature Reserve in Ta Cu mountain in the southern province of Binh Thuan.

The new endemic gecko lizard, Gekko takouensis sp. nov. Ngo & Gamble, which belongs to the gekkonidae family, was named after two scientists--Ngo Van Tri, an expert of the Department of Environmental Management and Technology under the HCM City Institute of Tropical Biology (HITB), and Tony Gamble, a US doctor in Minnesota University, for their discovery.

This is the second endemic gecko lizard found on Ta Cu mountain. The other is bent-toe gecko named Cyrtodactylus takouensis Ngo & Bauer.

According to Dr Vu Ngoc Long, Director of HITB’s Bio-diversity and Development Centre, there are at least 25 species of endangered animals at the Ta Cu Nature Reserve.

In an effort to protect the important nature reserve, a project has been launched to improve the management capacity of local authorities and raise people’s awareness of protecting environment.