Psychedelic gecko among over 200 new species discovered

Psychedelic gecko among new species discovered

Although new to scientists, these  animals are threatened by habitat loss, deforestation, climate change and overdevelopment,

A psychedelic gecko and a monkey with an "Elvis" hairdo  are among 208 new species described last year by scientists in the Mekong River region of Southeast Asia, a conservation group announced Monday.

The newly described species include a "psychedelic gecko" in southern Vietnam and a nose-less monkey in a remote province of Myanmar that looks like it wears a pompadour.

"While these species are new to science, the local people of Myanmar know it well.

The region is home to some of the world's most endangered species, including tigers, Asian elephants, Mekong dolphins and Mekong giant catfish.

"This is a region of extraordinary richness in terms of biodiversity but also one that is extremely fragile. "It's losing biodiversity at a tragic rate."