![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/scientists-discover-bizarre-new-crocodile-species-that-looks-more-like-an-alien/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2_TAKEN-WITHOUT-PERMISSION-EDITORIAL-CALL-FOR-USE-Scientists-discover-new-crocodile-species-and-it.jpg&description=Biologists have recorded an 'exceptional' new species of crocodile newt in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, and it's already set to be on the Red List of endangered animals A new species of crocodile newt - which looks like a cross between a frog and a lizard - has been found hidden on the forest floor in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The peculiar-looking animal, which has been dubbed Tylototriton ngoclinhensis, appears black in colour with florescent orange spots down each side of its back. Professor Trung My Phung, the researcher and study author, has described the discovery as 'exceptional' and coined the amphibian "one of the most colourful species" of its kind. Scientists found the creature between 1,800 to 2,300 metres above sea level, which is an elevational record for crocodile newts, previously spotted between 250 and 1,740 metres. Prof Trung My Phung said in the research article on ZooKeys: "It is an exceptional discovery as it is one of the most colourful species in the genus Tylototriton. This is also the first time biologists recorded a crocodile newt species from the Central Highlands of Vietnam." The team suspect the Central Highlands may be a hotspot for new evolved species of Vietnamese amphibians. There are nearly 40 species of crocodile newts known to inhabit the hills and mountains across Asia - including 15 new species that have been discovered in the past five years alone. The newest find was located during a field survey in the Ngoc Linh Nature, by the Vietnamese-German researcher team, which was supported by the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and the Cologne Zoo. The newt was named after its only known habitat in the mountains. It stood out to scientists because of its unique head shape, which is longer in length than width, along with its shorter tail, bright coloration and genetic makeup. Despite being such a recent discovery, researchers are calling to list T. ngoclinhensis as endangered on the International Union for Conse){kind=link}
Biologists have recorded an ‘exceptional’ new species of crocodile newt in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, and it’s already set to be on the Red List of endangered animals
A new species of crocodile newt – which looks like a cross between a frog and a lizard – has been found hidden on the forest floor in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
The peculiar-looking animal, which has been dubbed Tylototriton ngoclinhensis, appears black in colour with florescent orange spots down each side of its back.
Professor Trung My Phung, the researcher and study author, has described the discovery as ‘exceptional’ and coined the amphibian “one of the most colourful species” of its kind.
Scientists found the creature between 1,800 to 2,300 metres above sea level, which is an elevational record for crocodile newts, previously spotted between 250 and 1,740 metres.