‘Crocodile’ creature found on Vietnam mountain. It’s a colorful new species, study says

Researchers recently discovered an eye-catching new species of crocodile newt — a type of salamander — in the highlands of Vietnam.

The creature, distinguished by its bright orange coloration, was spotted during a field survey on a mountain in Kon Tum Province, according to a study published on July 3 in the journal ZooKeys.

“It is an exceptional discovery as it is one of the most colorful species in the genus Tylototriton,” Trung My Phung, one of the study’s authors, told industry publication Phys.org. The genus currently contains 38 species scattered throughout Asia.

Six specimens were collected from the forest floor, photographed, euthanized and placed in an ethanol solution for further analysis, researchers said.

Tissue samples were then taken from the newts’ tails for DNA analysis, which confirmed that the creatures belonged to a distinct, previously undocumented species.

It was named ngoclinhensis after the summit it was found on, Ngoc Linh Mountain.

“Moderate sized and robust,” the newt sports a short snout and flat tail, researchers said. But perhaps its most striking characteristics are the flashy strips of “knob-like” orange warts that line its back.

It’s not clear what purpose the vividly colored warts might serve, but bright pigments in other salamanders are considered to be a form of self-defense, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports in 2022.

Striking color patterns can signal to potential predators that the salamanders are toxic and unpalatable, according to the study.

Given ngoclinhensis has only been found on one mountain, researchers believe its population to be small and limited in range.

Its “very likely” that poachers will take an interest in the creature on account of its distinct color pattern, threatening the creature’s already scanty population, researchers said. Tourism, forest exploitation and agricultural cultivation could also further threaten the newfound species.

For those reasons, the species should be considered endangered, researchers said.

Kon Tum Province is located in central Vietnam and borders Laos and Cambodia.

This story was originally published July 5, 2023 at 4:18 PM with the headline "‘Crocodile’ creature found on Vietnam mountain. It’s a colorful new species, study says."