In the rugged karst forests of northern Vietnam, researchers have identified a new gecko species, Vietnam’s 12th known species of gecko. The discovery highlights how much diversity the often-overlooked landscape holds.
Ziegler’s Slender Gecko (Hemiphyllodactylus ziegleri) was discovered during surveys in the Copia Nature Reserve, in Son La province. The species was named in honor of Thomas Ziegler from the University of Cologne, Germany, “for his outstanding contribution to biodiversity research and conservation in Vietnam,” the study said.
These small, yellowish-grey geckos were observed at night on limestone cliffs and, in one instance, an electric pole in a cornfield.
While study co-author Minh Le from Vietnam National University called the find “exciting,” he noted the team was not shocked.
“Because we acknowledge, based on our research, that the diversity of this group of cryptic geckos is substantially underestimated,” he told Mongabay by email. “We expect that more new species will be described in the future.”
In this case, the term ‘cryptic’ refers to species that appear nearly identical to others. Despite their physical similarities, genetic testing revealed a 14% divergence between the new gecko and its closest relatives, a significant gap that represents a major evolutionary distinction between the new species and its relatives.
This finding is part of a broader trend; 85% of species in this genus have been described only in the last decade. Though many of them have been newly described, their habitat and ecosystems are already under threat.
For now, researchers recommend that the new slender geckos should receive a “data deficient” status on the IUCN Red List. They say more research is needed to understand the full impact of human activity on its tiny known range which spreads across less than 50 square kilometers (31 sqm).
“The main threat to the species is habitat loss and degradation,” Le said. He explained that Vietnam’s limestone habitats, frequently overlooked for their biodiversity, are often quarried for the cement industry. “However, recent research has shown that limestone harbors unique biodiversity with many endemic and threatened species.”
Even within the protected Copia Nature Reserve, the gecko’s habitat is being degraded by road construction and timber logging, the study noted.
Le added that it’s “crucial to raise public awareness” before these ecosystems are lost to overexploitation.
Banner image: An image of a male Hemiphyllodactylus ziegleri. Courtesy of Pham A.V. et al (2026) under Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0).
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