New lizard species found in Phong Nha, Ke Bang

September 2007

A group of Vietnamese, Swiss and German scientists have discovered a new species of lizard in the Truong Son region of central Vietnam. It was found in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a world natural heritage site, in the central province of Quang Binh.

The lizard has the Vietnamese name of bue-me (its scientific name is Lygosoma boehmei) and is found only in the karst forests of the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park.

Various specimens of the lizard were found on tree trunks, karst cliffs, rotten trees, stones, and in branches and leaves up to 2 meters from the ground. Scientists believe the lizard has remained undiscovered until now because it is only active during the night and is extremely skittish, darting into crevasses and holes at the slightest sign of danger.

The lizard is a few inches long and has a blue/purple hue to it’s skin, helping it to blend in well with tree trunks found in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. It’s diet is much the same as a domesticated lizard, feasting on the bugs that live within rotten tree trunks and thrive in hot, humid atmospheres.

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