Cambodia’s vast limestone caves have revealed a treasure trove of biodiversity, with scientists uncovering several species previously unknown to science — including a turquoise pit viper, a flying snake, and multiple geckos.

The discoveries were made during a two-year survey of 64 caves across Battambang province, led by UK-based conservation charity Fauna & Flora in partnership with Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment. The findings, published Monday, highlight the caves’ role as isolated “island laboratories” where evolution runs its course independently, producing unique life forms found nowhere else.

Among the standout discoveries are three gecko species still being formally named, alongside two micro-snails and two millipedes. Researchers also identified distinct populations of the striped Kamping Poi bent-toed gecko, each evolving differently depending on its cave environment. “If we are truly going to conserve biodiversity, we need to understand what is there,” said evolutionary biologist Lee Grismer, who supported the survey.

The caves are home not only to newly described species but also to globally threatened animals such as the Sunda pangolin, green peafowl, and long-tailed macaque. Some caves host bat colonies numbering up to a million, though researchers avoided these for health reasons.

Fieldwork often took place at night, with teams combing rocky terrain by torchlight to spot snakes and geckos when most active. “It was kind of a nice search party,” said conservation biologist Pablo Sinovas, who led the team.

Yet these fragile ecosystems face growing threats. Karst landscapes, which cover about 9% of Cambodia, are increasingly targeted for cement extraction, logging, hunting, and overtourism. Conservationists warn that destroying such habitats risks wiping out species before they are even described.

Efforts are now under way to secure protective status for parts of the karst landscape. As Sinovas put it, researchers have only “scratched the surface” of what lies hidden in Cambodia’s caves — a reminder that the race to explore and conserve is as urgent as the discoveries themselves.

-2026-03-24

Amazing. Well done to the research hers.