Klingon Newt
The Klingon newt, found in northeastern Thailand, has a burgundy body and black markings that make it easy to spot amid the greenery of the surrounding area.
Tylototriton anguliceps' distinctive skull shape is reminiscent of that of Lieutenant Worf and other Klingons on Star Trek.
Rainbow Snake, Klingon Newt Among 163 Newfound Species
All were found in 2015 in the biodiverse Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia.
A rainbow snake and Klingon newt are among the whimsical new species discovered in the Greater Mekong region, scientists announced today.
A new report published by World Wildlife Fund unveiled 163 new Mekong species to the world—all of which were found in 2015 alone.
One of the most species-rich spots on Earth, the Mekong and its river encompass parts of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Over the last 20 years, biologists have discovered nearly 2,500 new species in its mountains and rain forests.
"Species discovery isn’t random. A lot of times, people just haven’t looked," says David Blackburn, a herpetologist at the Florida Museum of Natural History who wasn't involved in the WWF report.
Many are very small, making them
