New Species from the Mekong Delta

Cat Ba Leopard Gecko
This newly discovered gecko has an orange-and-brown-marbled body and a black-and-white tail. Its catlike eyes and long legs seem like something out of a sci-fi movie. Named after the northern Vietnamese island where it was found, the Cat Ba gecko is related to a number of gecko species that are captured and sold as pets. Scientists are worried that the rare lizard will be overcollected, so they are recommending that it be classified as an endangered species.

• Scientists Announce Trove of Fragile New Species in Mekong