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HERPETOLOGICAL COLLABORATION IN VIETNAM

Nguyen Quang Truong - Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources

 

 

Abstract. This report gives a short overview about herpetological investigations in Vietnam. A list of new amphibian and reptile species described from Vietnam between 1980-2006 is provided.

Introduction
Vietnam has become well known for its remarkable and unique biodiversity, particularly its amphibian and reptile fauna. Numerous surveys of herpetofauna have been carried out in different areas of the country in the last decades. In the early 20th century (1924-1944), Bourret counted 177 species and sub-species of lizards, 245 species and sub-species of snakes, 45 species and sub-species of turtles, and 171 species and sub-species of amphibians for the Indochinese region [Bourret, 1936, 1941a, 1941b, 1942a, 1942b, 1943]. During the period between 1945 and 1954 no remarkable herpetological studies were undertaken, due to the infl uence of war. From 1954 to 1975, results of several surveys conducted by Vietnamese herpetologists in the north of the country included a total of 68 amphibian and 159 reptile species [Tran et al., 1981]. From the south, Campden-Main (1970) reported on 77 species of snakes in his fi eld guide. From 1976 to 1980, under the collaboration between Vietnamese and Russian institutions, several herpetological surveys were carried out in the north and the centre of Vietnam. The fi rst list and the key to all species of reptiles and amphibians of Vietnam was compiled by Dao Van Tien, including 87 species of amphibians, 77 species of lizards, 165 species of snakes, 32 species of turtles, and two species of crocodiles [Dao, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982]. The second checklist was published by Nguyen Van Sang and Ho Thu Cuc (1996) that listed a total of 340 species including 82 amphibian and 258 reptile species. The number of herpetofaunal species increased to 458 in an updated checklist by Nguyen et al. (2005) (i.e., 162 species amphibians and 296 species of reptiles). This checklist includes 200 additional species compared with the previous checklist of the herpetofauna of Vietnam. This increase in our knowledge about the amphibian and reptile fauna is a result of herpetological cooperations throughout the last over 25 years (1980-2006).

Involved agencies
Vietnam’s herpetofauna has been studied with the collaborative involvement of scientists both from Vietnam and from overseas. Institutions and organizations from abroad include the American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA (AMNH); Appalachian State University, North Carolina, USA (ASU); Chelonian Research Institute, Florida, USA (CRI); Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, California, USA (LACM); Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario, Canada (ROM); Zoological Institute of Saint Petersburg, Russian Academy of Science, Saint Petersburg, Russia (ZISP); Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn (ZFMK), and the Cologne Zoo, Cologne, Germany; National Museum of Natural Science, Taichung, Taiwan (NMNS). Institutions and organizations within Vietnam comprise Birdlife International (Birdlife); CARE International in Vietnam; Centre for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (CRES), Fauna and Flora International - Vietnam Programme (FFI); Hanoi National University; Hanoi University of Education (HUE); Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology (VAST); PLAN International in Vietnam; The World Union for Conservation (IUCN); Traffi c Southeast Asia; Wildlife At Risk in Vietnam (WAR); Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS); and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF - Indochina Program).

Fields of study and remarkable achievements
Collaboration of Vietnam’s herpetology has focused on two fi elds: discovery of herpetofaunal diversity and conservation of threatened species. Many surveys of herpetofaunal diversity have been conducted in different areas of the country, resulting in the discovery and description of three new genera, 79 new species and three new sub-species based on voucher collections from 1980 to 2006 (Table 1). Furthermore, at least 90 new records for Vietnam have been reported over this period. Results of these surveys showed that upland areas contain a high diversity of amphibian and reptile species. Several hotspots of the herpetofauna were defined in Vietnam comprising

Table 1. List of new species of reptiles and amphibians described based on voucher specimens from Vietnam (1980-2006).

No

Scientific name

Type locality

AMPHIBIA

1

Tylototriton vietnamensis Böhme, Schöttler, Nguyen and Köhler, 2005,

Lục Nam, tỉnh Bắc Giang

2

Leptobrachium banae Lathrop, Murphy, Orlov and Ho, 1998 KBang,

Tỉnh Gia Lai

3

Leptobrachium xanthospilum Lathrop, Murphy, Orlov and Ho, 1998 K Bang,

Tỉnh Gia Lai

4

Leptolalax bourreti Dubois, 1980

Sa Pa, Tỉnh Lào Cai

5

Leptolalax nahangensis Lathrop, Murphy, Orlov and Ho, 1998, 

Na Hang, tỉnh  Tuyen Quang

6

Leptolalax pluvialis Ohler, Marquis, Swan and Grosjean, 2000

Sa Pa, tỉnh Lao Cai

7

Leptolalax sungi Lathrop, Murphy, Orlov and Ho, 1998

Tam Đảo, tỉnh Vĩnh Phúc

8

Leptolalax tuberosus Inger, Orlov and Darevsky, 1999

Kon Cha Rang, Tỉnh Gia Lai

9

Ophryophryne gerti Ohler, 2003

Đà Lạt, tỉnh Lâm Đồng

10

Ophryophryne hansi Ohler, 2003

Đà Lạt, tỉnh Lâm Đồng

11

Vibrissaphora echinata Dubois and Ohler, 1998

Sa Pa, tỉnh Lào Cai

12

Vibrissaphora ngoclinhensis Orlov, 2005

Dak Glei, tỉnh Kon Tum

13

Microhyla marmorata Bain và Nguyen, 2004

Trà My, tỉnh Quang Nam

14

Microhyla nanapollexa Bain and Nguyen, 2004

Trà My, tỉnh Quang Nam

15

Microhyla pulverata Bain and Nguyen, 2004

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

16

Micryletta erythropoda (Tarkhnishvili, 1994)

Mã Đà, tỉnh Dong Nai

17

Amolops spinapectoralis Inger, Orlov and Darevsky, 1999

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

18

Paa bourreti Dubois, 1987

Sa Pa, tỉnh Lào Cai

19

Rana attigua Inger, Orlov and Darevsky, 1999

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

20

Rana bacboensis Bain, Lathrop, Murphy and Ho, 2003

Con Cuông, tỉnh Nghệ An

21

Rana banaorum Bain, Lathrop, Murphy and Ho, 2003

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

22

Rana cucae Bain, Stuart and Orlov, 2006

Văn Bàn, tỉnh Lao Cai

23

Rana daorum Bain, Lathrop, Murphy and Ho, 2003

Sa Pa, tỉnh Lao Cai

24

Rana hmongorum Bain, Lathrop, Murphy and Ho, 2003

Sa Pa, tỉnh Lao Cai

25

Rana iriodes Bain and Nguyen, 2004

Vị Xuyên, tỉnh Hà Giang

26

Rana khalam Stuart, Orlov and Tanya, 2005

Bạch Mã, Thừa Thiên Huế, tỉnh Lào Cai

27

Rana megatympanum Bain, Lathrop, Murphy and Ho, 2003

Con Cuông, tỉnh Nghệ An

28

Rana morafkai Bain, Lathrop, Murphy and Ho, 2003

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

29

Rana orba Stuart và Bain, 2005

Hương Sơn, tỉnh Hà Tĩinh

30

Rana trankieni Orlov, Le và Ho, 2003

Phú Yên, tỉnh Sơn La

31

Aquixalus (Chirixalus) ananjevae Matsui and Orlov, 2004,

Hương Khê, tỉnh Hà Tĩnh

32

Aquixalus (Rhacophorus) baliogaster (Inger, Orlov and Darevsky, 1999,

Buon Luoi, Tram Lap và Krong Pa, tỉnh Gia Lai

33

Aquixalus (Philautus) supercornutus Orlov, Ho and Nguyen, 2004,

Bạch Mã, tỉnh Thừa Thiên Huế

34

Philautus abditus Inger, Orlov and Darevsky, 1999

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

35

Philautus truongsonensis Orlov and Ho, 2005,

Hướng Hóa, tỉnh Quang Tri

36

Rhacophorus duboisi Orler, Marquis, Swan and Grosjean, 2000

Sa Pa, tỉnh Lào Cai

37

Rhacophorus exechopygus Inger, Orlov and Darevsky, 1999

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

38

Rhacophorus hoanglienensis Orlov, Lathrop, Murphy and Ho, 2001,

Sa Pa, tỉnh Lào Cai

39

Rhacophorus orlovi Ziegler and Köhler, 2000

Kỳ Anh, tỉnh Hà Tĩnh

REPTILIA

Sauria

1

Acanthosaura nataliae Orlov, Nguyen and Nguyen, 2006

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

2

Bronchocela orlovi Hallermann, 2004

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

3

Bronchocela vietnamensis Hallermann and Orlov, 2005

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

4

Leiolepis guentherpetersi Darevsky and Kupriyanova, 1993

Thuy Phu, tỉnh Thừa Thiên-Huế

5

Cyrtodactylus paradoxus (Darevsky and Szczerbak, 1997)

Phú Quốc, tỉnh Kiên Giang

6

Cyrtodactylus phongnhakebangensis Ziegler, Rösler, Herrmann, and Vũ, 2002

Phong Nha-Ke Bang, tỉnh Quảng Bình

7

Dixonius vietnamensis Das, 2004

Nha Trang, tỉnh Khánh Hòa

8

Gekko grossmanni Gunther, 1994

tỉnh Khánh Hòa

9

Gekko scientiadventura Rösler, Ziegler, Vu, Herrmann, and Böhme, 2005,

Phong Nha – Kẻ Bàng, tỉnh Quảng Bình

10

Gekko ulikovskii Darevsky and Orlov, 1994

tỉnh Kon Tum

11

Goniurosaurus araneus Grismer, Viets, and Boyle, 1999

tỉnh Cao Bằng

12

Hemidactylus stejnegeri Ota và Hikida, 1989

Ba Mun, tỉnh Quảng Ninh

13

Hemidactylus vietnamensis Darevsky and Kupriyanova, 1984

Cúc Phương, tỉnh Ninh Bình

14

Dibamus deharvengi Ineich, 1999

Binh Châu, tỉnh Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu

15

Dibamus greeri Darevsky, 1992

Kon Cha Rang, tỉnh Kon

16

Dibamus kondaoensis Honda, Ota, Hikida and Darevsky, 2001

Con Dao, tỉnh Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu

17

Dibamus smithi Greer, 1985

Đà Lạt, tỉnh Lâm Đồng

18

Takydromus hani Chou, Nguyen and Pauwels, 2001

Hương Sơn, tỉnh Hà Tĩnh

19

Takydromus kuehnei vietnamensis Ziegler and Bischoff, 1999

Kẻ Gỗ, tỉnh Hà Tĩnh

20

Leptoseps tetradactylus Darevsky and Orlov, 2005

Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng, tỉnh Quảng Bình

21

Lygosoma carinatum Darevsky and Orlov, 1996

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

22

Mabuya darevskii Bobrov, 1992

Cao Pha, tỉnh Sơn La

 

Paralipinia Darevsky and Orlov, 1997

 

23

Paralipinia rara Darevsky and Orlov, 1997

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

24

Sphenomorphus buenloicus Darevsky and Nguyen, 1983

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

25

Sphenomorphus cryptotis Darevsky, Orlov and Ho, 2004

Uông Bí, tỉnh Quảng Ninh

26

Sphenomorphus devorator Darevsky, Orlov and Ho, 2004

Uông Bí, tỉnh Quảng Ninh

27

Sphenomorphus rufocaudatus Darevsky and Nguyen, 1983

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

28

Tropidophorus murphyi Hikida, Orlov, Nabhitabhata và Ota, 2002

Nguyên Bình, tỉnh Cao Bằng

29

Tropidophorus noggei Ziegler, Vu and Quang Binh Bui, 2005

 Ke Bang, Phong Nha

 

Vietnascincus Darevsky and Orlov, 1994

 

30

Vietnascincus rugosus Darevsky and Orlov, 1994

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

31

Ophisaurus sokolovi Darevsky and Nguyen, 1983

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

Loài rắn

32

Amphiesma andreae Ziegler and Le, 2006

Minh Hoa, tỉnh Quang Binh

33

Boiga bourreti Tillack, Ziegler and  Le, 2004

Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng, tỉnh Quảng Bình

34

Calamaria lovii ingermarxorum Darevsky and Orlov, 1992

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

35

Calamaria thanhi Ziegler and Le, 2005

Minh Hoa, tỉnh Quang Binh

36

Opisthotrophis daovantieni Orlov, Darevsky and Murphy, 1998

K Bang, tỉnh Gia Lai

37

Bungarus slowinskii Kuch, Kizirian, Nguyen, Lawson, Donnelly, and Mebs, 2005

Văn Yên, tỉnh Yen Bai

 

Triceratolepidophis Ziegler, Herrmann, David, Orlov and Pauwels, 2000

 

38

Triceratolepidophis sieversorum Ziegler, Herrmann, David, Orlov and Pauwels, 2000, 

Phong Nha Kẻ Bàng, tỉnh Quảng Bình

39

Trimeresurus truongsonensis Orlov, Ryabov, Bui and Ho, 2004

Phong Nha Kẻ Bàng, tỉnh Quảng Bình

TESTUDINES

40

Cuora bourreti (Obst and Reimann, 1994)

Linh Cam, tỉnh Hà Tĩnh

41

Cuora mouhoti obsti Fritz, Andreas and Lehr, 1998

Miền trung Việt Nam

42

Cuora picturata (Lehr, Fritz and Obst, 1998)

Miền trung Việt Nam

43

Cyclemys pulchristriata Fritz, Gaulke and Lehr, 1997

Phước Sơn, tỉnh Quảng Nam

Fansipan Mountain in the northwestern region; Bac Son and Yen Tu mountains in the northeastern region; Truong Son Range and Tay Nguyen Plateau in the
centre of the country; and Me Kong River Basin in the south [Biodiversity Action Plan for Vietnam, 1995]. These areas contain a large expanse of primary vegetation and they still require future research At present, main threats to the herpetofauna in Vietnam are identifi ed including overexploitation for trade and consumption and habitat loss as a result of forest land alteration. Some specifi c conservation programs for reptiles and amphibians are being implemented in different protected areas in an effort to mitigate threats to the herpetofauna. Turtles are currently known as the most threatened group because of the high demand of consumption and trade in the Indochinese region. A few conservation projects for both freshwater and marine turtles have been implemented in Vietnam, and the Turtle Conservation and Ecology Project in Cuc Phuong National Park was known as the first conservation centre for reptiles in Vietnam. Moreover, governmental rescue centres for wild animals have been established in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh cities and in other national parks in Central Vietnam for releasing confiscated wildlife. The population of the Vietnamese salamander Paramesotriton deloustali, an endemic species of Vietnam, is recuperating with the efforts of the conservation project at the Tam Dao National Park and buffer zone (Nguyen and Ho, 2004).
Many results have been published as a result of this successful research collaboration (see extended references section). Several fi eld guides (e.g., Photographic guide to the turtles of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia [Stuart et al., 2001]; Reptiles and amphibians of Cuc Phuong National Park [Nguyen et al., 2003]; A fi eld guide to reptiles and amphibians of Vietnam [Nguyen et al., 2005]; Amphibians and reptiles of Ba Be National Park and Na Hang Nature Reserve [Le et al., 2004]) and checklists (e.g., Herpetofauna of Vietnam. A checklist. Part 1. Amphibia [Orlov et al., 2002]; A checklist of amphibians and reptiles of Vietnam [Nguyen et al., 2005]) have appeared both in English and Vietnamese. Furthermore, a hundred articles of herpetofaunal diversity and descriptions of new taxa have been published in international and national journals during period from 1980 to 2006.

 

Further opportunities for collaboration
Vietnam’s herpetofauna is still imperfectly known, and many areas remain either un-explored or undersurveyed, as indicated by the numerous new species being described in such a short period of time. In order to ensure that Vietnam’s herpetofauna can be more closely understood and better protected, efforts shoule be focused in three important fi elds:
1) Diversity studies, which include fi eld surveys for presence and novel natural history information, detailed study of natural history museum specimens, and the combination of both of these in morphological and genetic studies;
2) conservation, including monitoring at population level and evaluation nof threats to herpetofauna and concomitant assignment of priority areas for herpetofaunal conservation; and 3) training for workers in the fields of sc ience and conservation: training for scientists from institutions and universities, training for natural resource managers, training for staff from protected areas, and improvement of scientific capacity (equipment, collection management, information exchange and literatures). Perhaps most important to the overall success of this enterprise are the ongoing efforts to strengthen the collaboration between scientists and conservation managers so that information can be collected, disseminated, and ultimately used to guide decision-making in a systematic and timely manner.
Acknowledgements. The author would like to thank Raoul H. Bain (American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA) and Thomas Ziegler (Cologne Zoo, Cologne, Germany) for their helpful comments on the manuscript. Altering their advice was done so at own risk and any errors in the manuscript are those of the author.

 

References.
Andersson, L.G. (1942): A small collection of frogs from Annam. Ark. Zool. 34A(6): 1-11.
Bain, R.H., Lathrop, A., Murphy, R.W., Orlov, N.L., Ho, C.T. (2003): Cryptic species of cascade frog from Southeast Asia: Taxonomic revision and descriptions of six new species. Amer. Mus. Novit. 3417: 1-60.
Bain, R.H., Nguyen, T.Q. (2001a): Amolops cremnobatus (Roughback torrent frog). Herpetol. Rev. 32(4): 269.
Bain, R.H., Nguyen, T.Q. (2001b): Rana chapaensis (Chapa frog). Herpetol. Rev. 32(4): 272.
Bain, R.H., Nguyen, T.Q. (2002a): Amolops spinapectoralis (Spinyback torrent frog). Herpetol. Rev. 33(1): 61.
Bain, R.H., Nguyen, T.Q. (2002b): Rana attigua. Herpetol. Rev. 33(1): 63.
Bain, R.H., Nguyen, T.Q. (2002c): Rhacophorus exechopygus (Spinybottom tree frog). Herpetol. Rev. 33(1): 64.

 
 

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