Several individuals of the rare amphibious species, named Ca coc san in
Vietnamese and known scientifically as Echinotriton asperrimus, have
been found living on Hem mountain at Thanh Son district, the northern
province of Phu Tho.
According to Tran Dang Lau, Deputy
Director of the provincial department of forest management, this is the
second time the species, which usually live at a height of 700 metres
above sea level, has been found in the locality.
This
lizard-shaped amphibious species is only 5-7cm long. Its skin is covered
with small nodules. Its forelegs have four fingers while the hindleg
have five ones. The back and abdomen are dark brown.
Lau said this is a particularly rare species subject to protection in Vietnam and the world.
In 2003, some individuals of this species was also discovered in Ten
mountain in the Xuan Son National Park, which is about 30km from
mountain Hem.-VNA