Latest news with #PabloSinovas
Miami Herald
01-07-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Leaf-toed' creature found ‘wandering' at night in Cambodia. It's a new species
Night stretched across western Cambodia, coaxing a 'leaf-toed' creature from its hiding place and onto the boulders. Its 'reddish'-gold eyes scanned the surrounding landscape, but it wasn't the only one searching. Nearby scientists noticed the spotted animal — and discovered a new species. A team of researchers visited some poorly known karstic rock formations in Battambang Province in March 2024 to survey reptiles and amphibians. Karstic habitats generally have high levels of biodiversity so the team expected to find some interesting animals, according to a study published June 30 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. During their visit, researchers encountered over a dozen unfamiliar-looking geckos, the study said. Intrigued, they took a closer look at the lizards, analyzed their DNA and quickly realized they'd discovered a new species: Dixonius noctivagus, or the Battambang leaf-toed gecko. Battambang leaf-toed geckos are considered 'small,' reaching just over 4 inches in length, the study said. They have 'flat' snouts and 'moderate'-sized eyes with a 'reddish'-gold mosaic-like pattern. Its 'short' fingers and toes have 'expanded,' 'leaf'-like pads. Photos show the new species' coloring. Overall, its body is light brown with darker brown blotches almost resembling leopard spots. Battambang leaf-toed geckos were found on karstic boulders, 'a cement wall' and on the ground nearby, the study said. Several female geckos were found pregnant with 'two eggs, indicating that breeding probably occurs in February and March.' Researchers said they named the new species after the Latin words for 'night' and 'vagrant or wandering' because of its 'nocturnal activity.' The new species' common name refers to the site in Battambang Province where it was first discovered and, so far, the only place where it has been found. The range of these geckos 'undoubtedly extends farther in all directions,' researchers said. Battambang Province is in western Cambodia and along the border with Thailand. Cambodia also borders Laos and Vietnam. The new species was identified by its scale pattern, coloring, pores and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 7% genetic divergence from other related geckos. The research team included L. Lee Grismer, Pablo Sinovas, Evan Quah, Sothearen Thi, Phyroum Chourn, Sophea Chhin, Seiha Hun, Anthony Cobos, Christian Ching, Matthew Murdoch, Jeren Gregory, Eddie Nguyen, Alex Hernandez, Amanda Kaatz and Jesse Grismer. The team also discovered two more new species of gecko in the same rocky habitat: the Kamping Poi bent-toed gecko and Khpoh slender gecko. 'Small and cryptic species like these newly described geckos often escape notice,' study co-author Sinovas said in a June 30 news release from Flora & Fauna. 'Bringing them to light is just the beginning of an exciting journey, one we hope will lead to the protection of these remarkable karst landscapes.' 'Cambodia's karst landscapes remain largely uncharted, their vast biodiversity still underreported, yet they face increasing pressure from human activities — from tourism development to industrial-scale destruction caused by mining for building materials,' Sinovas said in the release. 'We must prioritise the protection of these fragile karst ecosystems before rare species are lost forever.'
Miami Herald
15-04-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Mysterious' long-toed creature missing for a century found sunbathing in jungle
On a two-day trek through the jungle in North Sumatra, researcher Pablo Sinovas was stopped in his tracks by a 'vibrant' creature sitting on the trail, basking in a beam of sunlight that broke through the rainforest canopy. It flicked its pale 'snake-like' tongue at him before running off in short bursts on its 'inordinately long' toes, taking refuge under a boulder, according to an April 10 study published in the journal Zootaxa. Unsure in the moment of what he found, Sinovas showed a picture of the animal to local guides and residents. Only a few people had ever seen it before. Sinovas then sent photos of the 'mysterious' creature to Dr. Lee Grismer whom he calls 'Southeast Asia's leading herpetologist,' according to an April 12 Instagram post. 'Holy (expletive)! Did you find it?' Grismer responded, according to Sinovas' post. 'That species has not been seen in well over a century. I have looked for it for 20 years.' It turns out Sinovas had photographed Sphenomorphus anomalopus, also known as the long-toed forest skink — sightings of which had not been confirmed in 109 years, according to the study. 'It was described in 1890 and, shortly after, it vanished,' Sinovas said. 'All that remained were some old, faded museum specimens.' The skink, listed as data deficient on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List, had never officially been documented alive and in its natural habitat. Dead specimens were recorded in Sumatra in 1915, then there was no mention of the species until a few unconfirmed images appeared on iNaturalist in 2023 and 2024, according to the study. Sinovas' observations have helped verify the skink in these photos as Sphenomorphus anomalopus, according to the study. The species is recognized by 'its unmistakably long fourth toe,' according to the study. Scientists initially believed the species lived in the trees and that this digit provided grip for their arboreal lifestyle. New observations show the skink actually lives on the ground among leaf litter, and its long toes may provide additional traction on slippery surfaces, according to Sinovas. The long-toed forest skink, never before described alive, has a 'vibrant and contrasting' coloration, with a 'lemon-yellow' throat and chest and 'orange, reddish, and greyish pattern configuration,' according to the study. The skink was rediscovered in Gunung Leuser National Park, a world heritage site and biosphere reserve, according to the study. The park is 'renowned for its biodiversity and serves as a critical habitat for numerous endemic and threatened species,' including the Sumatran orangutan and the Sumatran elephant, according to the study. Researchers include Pablo Sinovas and L. Lee Grismer.
Khaleej Times
18-03-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
'We will preserve them': Saving Cambodia's crocodiles
A motorbike rider inches slowly over bumpy terrain deep in Cambodia's Virachey national park, carefully adjusting the basket strapped behind him. Inside is precious cargo -- a critically endangered Siamese crocodile. The reptile is one of 10 being released into the park in Cambodia's northeast for the first time -- part of a years-long effort that has brought the Siamese crocodile back from the brink of extinction in the wild. "Often what we see is species are declining, species are disappearing," said Pablo Sinovas, Cambodia country director for the Fauna & Flora conservation group, which has led the conservation programme. "In this case, we are seeing actually that the species seems to be recovering." The crocodile, which can grow up to four metres long, is distinguished by dragon-like bony crests behind each eye. Just 25 years ago, experts feared that the Siamese crocodile might no longer exist outside zoos and the crocodile farms that helped decimate its population. But in 2000, a biodiversity survey led by Fauna & Flora uncovered a small number in the remote Cardamom Mountains in southwest Cambodia, kicking off a conservation effort that has given the species a 400-strong foothold in the country. Discoveries and conservation elsewhere mean there are now up to 1,000 Siamese crocodiles in the wild globally, though in just one percent of its former range. Cambodia has been central to that success, said crocodile expert Charlie Manolis, chief scientist at Wildlife Management International in Australia. "There's an opportunity in Cambodia," he said, explaining that, unlike neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam, there are still "large tracts" of protected land. - 'Best possible headstart' - Key to Cambodia's effort is a programme to help the species -- which was once found all over Southeast Asia -- breed more successfully. In the wild, fragmented populations might struggle to find a mate, and both eggs and juvenile offspring are vulnerable to predators. For every 50 or so born in the wild, perhaps as few as three survive, said Joe Rose, captive breeding officer at the Phnom Tamao facility outside Phnom Penh. "Breeding within a facility like this, we can ensure a 100 percent survival rate from hatchlings... and healthy young crocodiles to take out and release, to give them the best possible headstart", Rose said. There are around 200 crocodiles at the facility at any one time, including 50 breeding adults, who produced nearly 200 eggs last year. Eggs are taken into incubators, and hatchlings are raised in enclosures with progressive exposure to the fish and frogs they will one day catch in the wild. After several years, they are ready for release. Until now, that has meant heading to the Cardamom Mountains, where last year 60 crocodiles were recorded hatching in the wild -- the highest number in a century. The growing population holds promise not just for the species but for its broader environment too. Crocodiles are top predators which regulate their ecosystems, and there is evidence that fish diversity is higher in the rivers they inhabit. The conservation effort's growing success has bred a need for new habitats, a challenge given that crocodiles need space, prey and enough distance away from humans to minimise conflict. Virachey's rugged, remote terrain makes it ideal, with relatively untouched plant and animal life, and few residents. "It's essentially protected mostly by the remoteness," said Sinovas. - Ultrasound 'pings' - Releasing the crocodiles into a new environment is still risky. They could face predators or struggle to feed themselves -- and tracking their progress can be difficult and expensive. "Often reintroduction programmes with crocodilians, you sort of hurl them all out there, and then everybody sort of walks away and hopes that they live and grow," said Manolis. But Fauna & Flora will keep tabs using acoustic monitors, inspired by lessons from Australian crocodile conservation efforts. In Phnom Tamao, each of the 10 crocodiles is fitted with a thimble-sized transmitter, placed beneath their dappled scaly skin. These send ultrasound "pings" every time the creatures pass receivers placed along a 10-kilometre stretch of their new river home in Virachey. The data will be recorded for several months and then collected and analysed for clues on the programme's success. Reaching their new home was no easy task for the reptiles. First, there was 18 hours of travel in cylindrical bamboo baskets transported by car, motorbike and boat. Next, they acclimatised in a temporary enclosure. Receivers were installed and checked, and then it was time. Electrical tape that had been wound around their snouts to prevent snapping was peeled away, and each creature was gradually lowered into the water. They quickly splashed away, carrying great hopes on their scaly shoulders. Conservationists credit part of their success to cooperation with local communities, who have protected crocodiles in the Cardamoms and helped document new hatchlings. For Chroub Srak Er, a resident and ranger at Virachey, the reptiles offer hope. "These crocodiles disappeared a long time ago," he said. "We are so happy, we will preserve them together."
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'We will preserve them': saving Cambodia's crocodiles
A motorbike rider inches slowly over bumpy terrain deep in Cambodia's Virachey national park, carefully adjusting the basket strapped behind him. Inside is precious cargo -- a critically endangered Siamese crocodile. The reptile is one of 10 being released into the park in Cambodia's northeast for the first time -- part of a years-long effort that has brought the Siamese crocodile back from the brink of extinction in the wild. "Often what we see is species are declining, species are disappearing," said Pablo Sinovas, Cambodia country director for the Fauna & Flora conservation group, which has led the conservation programme. "In this case, we are seeing actually that the species seems to be recovering." The crocodile, which can grow up to four metres (13 feet) long, is distinguished by dragon-like bony crests behind each eye. Just 25 years ago, experts feared that the Siamese crocodile might no longer exist outside zoos and the crocodile farms that helped decimate its population. But in 2000, a biodiversity survey led by Fauna & Flora uncovered a small number in the remote Cardamom Mountains in southwest Cambodia, kicking off a conservation effort that has given the species a 400-strong foothold in the country. Discoveries and conservation elsewhere mean there are now up to 1,000 Siamese crocodiles in the wild globally, though in just one percent of its former range. Cambodia has been central to that success, said crocodile expert Charlie Manolis, chief scientist at Wildlife Management International in Australia. "There's an opportunity in Cambodia," he said, explaining that, unlike neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam, there are still "large tracts" of protected land. - 'Best possible headstart' - Key to Cambodia's effort is a programme to help the species -- which was once found all over Southeast Asia -- breed more successfully. In the wild, fragmented populations might struggle to find a mate, and both eggs and juvenile offspring are vulnerable to predators. For every 50 or so born in the wild, perhaps as few as three survive, said Joe Rose, captive breeding officer at the Phnom Tamao facility outside Phnom Penh. "Breeding within a facility like this, we can ensure a 100 percent survival rate from hatchlings... and healthy young crocodiles to take out and release, to give them the best possible headstart", Rose said. There are around 200 crocodiles at the facility at any one time, including 50 breeding adults, who produced nearly 200 eggs last year. Eggs are taken into incubators, and hatchlings are raised in enclosures with progressive exposure to the fish and frogs they will one day catch in the wild. After several years, they are ready for release. Until now, that has meant heading to the Cardamom Mountains, where last year 60 crocodiles were recorded hatching in the wild -- the highest number in a century. The growing population holds promise not just for the species but for its broader environment too. Crocodiles are top predators which regulate their ecosystems, and there is evidence that fish diversity is higher in the rivers they inhabit. The conservation effort's growing success has bred a need for new habitats, a challenge given that crocodiles need space, prey and enough distance away from humans to minimise conflict. Virachey's rugged, remote terrain makes it ideal, with relatively untouched plant and animal life, and few residents. "It's essentially protected mostly by the remoteness," said Sinovas. - Ultrasound 'pings' - Releasing the crocodiles into a new environment is still risky. They could face predators or struggle to feed themselves -- and tracking their progress can be difficult and expensive. "Often reintroduction programmes with crocodilians, you sort of hurl them all out there, and then everybody sort of walks away and hopes that they live and grow," said Manolis. But Fauna & Flora will keep tabs using acoustic monitors, inspired by lessons from Australian crocodile conservation efforts. In Phnom Tamao, each of the 10 crocodiles is fitted with a thimble-sized transmitter, placed beneath their dappled scaly skin. These send ultrasound "pings" every time the creatures pass receivers placed along a 10-kilometre stretch of their new river home in Virachey. The data will be recorded for several months and then collected and analysed for clues on the programme's success. Reaching their new home was no easy task for the reptiles. First, there was 18 hours of travel in cylindrical bamboo baskets transported by car, motorbike and boat. Next, they acclimatised in a temporary enclosure. Receivers were installed and checked, and then it was time. Electrical tape that had been wound around their snouts to prevent snapping was peeled away, and each creature was gradually lowered into the water. They quickly splashed away, carrying great hopes on their scaly shoulders. Conservationists credit part of their success to cooperation with local communities, who have protected crocodiles in the Cardamoms and helped document new hatchlings. For Chroub Srak Er, a resident and ranger at Virachey, the reptiles offer hope. "These crocodiles disappeared a long time ago," he said. "We are so happy, we will preserve them together." suy-sah/pdw/pjm/sn
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'We will preserve them': saving Cambodia's crocodiles
A motorbike rider inches slowly over bumpy terrain deep in Cambodia's Virachey national park, carefully adjusting the basket strapped behind him. Inside is precious cargo -- a critically endangered Siamese crocodile. The reptile is one of 10 being released into the park in Cambodia's northeast for the first time -- part of a years-long effort that has brought the Siamese crocodile back from the brink of extinction in the wild. "Often what we see is species are declining, species are disappearing," said Pablo Sinovas, Cambodia country director for the Fauna & Flora conservation group, which has led the conservation programme. "In this case, we are seeing actually that the species seems to be recovering." The crocodile, which can grow up to four metres (13 feet) long, is distinguished by dragon-like bony crests behind each eye. Just 25 years ago, experts feared that the Siamese crocodile might no longer exist outside zoos and the crocodile farms that helped decimate its population. But in 2000, a biodiversity survey led by Fauna & Flora uncovered a small number in the remote Cardamom Mountains in southwest Cambodia, kicking off a conservation effort that has given the species a 400-strong foothold in the country. Discoveries and conservation elsewhere mean there are now up to 1,000 Siamese crocodiles in the wild globally, though in just one percent of its former range. Cambodia has been central to that success, said crocodile expert Charlie Manolis, chief scientist at Wildlife Management International in Australia. "There's an opportunity in Cambodia," he said, explaining that, unlike neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam, there are still "large tracts" of protected land. - 'Best possible headstart' - Key to Cambodia's effort is a programme to help the species -- which was once found all over Southeast Asia -- breed more successfully. In the wild, fragmented populations might struggle to find a mate, and both eggs and juvenile offspring are vulnerable to predators. For every 50 or so born in the wild, perhaps as few as three survive, said Joe Rose, captive breeding officer at the Phnom Tamao facility outside Phnom Penh. "Breeding within a facility like this, we can ensure a 100 percent survival rate from hatchlings... and healthy young crocodiles to take out and release, to give them the best possible headstart", Rose said. There are around 200 crocodiles at the facility at any one time, including 50 breeding adults, who produced nearly 200 eggs last year. Eggs are taken into incubators, and hatchlings are raised in enclosures with progressive exposure to the fish and frogs they will one day catch in the wild. After several years, they are ready for release. Until now, that has meant heading to the Cardamom Mountains, where last year 60 crocodiles were recorded hatching in the wild -- the highest number in a century. The growing population holds promise not just for the species but for its broader environment too. Crocodiles are top predators which regulate their ecosystems, and there is evidence that fish diversity is higher in the rivers they inhabit. The conservation effort's growing success has bred a need for new habitats, a challenge given that crocodiles need space, prey and enough distance away from humans to minimise conflict. Virachey's rugged, remote terrain makes it ideal, with relatively untouched plant and animal life, and few residents. "It's essentially protected mostly by the remoteness," said Sinovas. - Ultrasound 'pings' - Releasing the crocodiles into a new environment is still risky. They could face predators or struggle to feed themselves -- and tracking their progress can be difficult and expensive. "Often reintroduction programmes with crocodilians, you sort of hurl them all out there, and then everybody sort of walks away and hopes that they live and grow," said Manolis. But Fauna & Flora will keep tabs using acoustic monitors, inspired by lessons from Australian crocodile conservation efforts. In Phnom Tamao, each of the 10 crocodiles is fitted with a thimble-sized transmitter, placed beneath their dappled scaly skin. These send ultrasound "pings" every time the creatures pass receivers placed along a 10-kilometre stretch of their new river home in Virachey. The data will be recorded for several months and then collected and analysed for clues on the programme's success. Reaching their new home was no easy task for the reptiles. First, there was 18 hours of travel in cylindrical bamboo baskets transported by car, motorbike and boat. Next, they acclimatised in a temporary enclosure. Receivers were installed and checked, and then it was time. Electrical tape that had been wound around their snouts to prevent snapping was peeled away, and each creature was gradually lowered into the water. They quickly splashed away, carrying great hopes on their scaly shoulders. Conservationists credit part of their success to cooperation with local communities, who have protected crocodiles in the Cardamoms and helped document new hatchlings. For Choub Srak Er, a resident and ranger at Virachey, the reptiles offer hope. "These crocodiles disappeared a long time ago," he said. "We are so happy, we will preserve them together." suy-sah/pdw/pjm/sn
