Phnom Penh (AFP) - A new species of legless
amphibian resembling a giant earthworm or a
snake has been discovered in a remote but
threatened area of Cambodian rainforest,
conservationists said on Friday.
The grey-brown creature -- Ichthyophis
cardamomensis -- was found in Cambodia's
southwest Cardamom Mountains, an area
under threat from habitat loss, according to
Fauna and Flora International (FFI).
The new species is often mistaken for a snake,
with larger species known to grow up to 1.5
metres (nearly five feet) in length, FFI said.
It was confirmed by scientists earlier this
month according to leading Cambodian FFI
herpetologist Neang Thy.
"These discoveries are important to
demonstrate that much of Cambodia's
biodiversity remains unknown and unstudied
by science, and many more areas need to be
searched," Thy, who has been researching
amphibians and reptiles since 2003, told AFP.
The creature is caecilian -- an order of
amphibians that look like snakes or
earthworms and are generally found
underground.
Once a stronghold of the toppled Khmer
Rouge regime, the bio-diverse Cardamom
Mountains are home to an array of rare
species, including the Asian elephant, but the
area faces widespread deforestation.
Conservationists warn that illegal logging and
other habitat destruction could mean new
species become extinct shortly after discovery