Elephants in the Central Highlands. (Photo source: PV/Vietnam+) Wild animals and plants play an important role in maintaining ecological balance, ensuring Ecosystem are complete systems, contributing to the provision of ecosystem services for sustainable development, bringing direct benefits to people. The strengthening of wildlife protection is one of the most important tasks of biodiversity conservation. A clear legal system, behavior change communication, and effective law enforcement are considered to be the three decisive factors for the success of a conservation campaign. VNA introduces a series of 4 articles “Joining hands to protect wildlife in Vietnam.” Lesson 1: Facing a downtrend According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Committee in the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, the rate at which biodiversity is being degraded is unprecedented in history. One million plant and animal species out of a total of 8 million species on earth are on the verge of extinction. In Vietnam, in recent years, biodiversity resources are continuing to decline. The situation of illegal hunting, killing, slaughtering, transporting, trading, and consuming wild animals is still complicated, leading to an increase in the risk of extinction of many wild animals in the environment. nature, negatively affecting ecological balance, human health and the country’s reputation in the international arena. There is also a risk of disease transmission to humans, livestock and poultry. Biodiversity is reduced mainly due to natural loss, overexploitation, climate change, environmental pollution from the use of pesticides, plastic products… and invasive species. In which, urbanization, deforestation, and agricultural development are the main causes causing nearly 75% of the terrestrial environment to be changed, causing species and ecosystems to decline. The wildlife trade has also created many consequences, wreaking havoc on the environment, severely reducing species populations with 67% of animals worldwide already in decline. High diversity comes with risk extinction increase According to the 6th national report to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Vietnam currently has about 51,400 species of organisms that have been identified, including 7,500 species/microorganism strains, about 20,000 terrestrial and aquatic plant species, 10,900 species of terrestrial animals, 2,000 species of invertebrates and freshwater fish, and 11,000 other marine species. Many species have great value for conservation, contribute to science and affirm the global importance of Vietnam’s biodiversity, such as saola, silver-backed chevrotain, giant gill, Truong Son gill, striped rabbit, etc. Asian elephants, bison, gray cows, tigers, leopards, star deer, primates, sea turtles and freshwater tortoises… The International Bird Conservation Organization has also identified Vietnam as having 63 important bird areas. important. Compared with other countries in Indochina, the fauna of Vietnam is quite rich in species composition and has a high degree of endemism. Of the 21 monkey species found in this region, Vietnam has 15 species, of which 7 are endemic species and subspecies. Of the 49 endemic bird species in the region, Vietnam has 33 species, of which 10 are endemic to Vietnam alone. From 2014-2018, 334 new species were discovered for science including 208 animal species, 136 plant species described and published in prestigious international scientific journals and the Institute’s Journal of Biology Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. According to statistics, the number of species and individuals of Vietnam’s wild species is on a sharp decline, many endangered, precious and rare species are at very high risk of extinction. Like the Ho Guom turtle, there are only 4 known living individuals in the world, including 1 individual in China and 3 individuals in Vietnam. Other large mammals such as elephants, tigers, bears, big cats and pangolins are also threatened with extinction if no resolute and effective protection measures are taken. Sao la – a species endemic to the Truong Son range is also on the verge of extinction. Investigation and monitoring efforts to date have not found any populations of the species in the wild. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List updated in November 2020, the number of threatened species distributed in Vietnam is 745 species, including 64 mammal species, 53 bird species, 70 reptile species, etc. 45 species of amphibians and 96 species of fish. The total number of wild species recorded in the Red Book of Vietnam is 882 species, of which 464 are precious and rare animals (an increase of 108 species within 10 years). There are 116 species that are critically endangered and 6 species that have been converted from different endangered levels to considered extinct, including two-horned rhinoceros, gray bull, tapir, otter civet, lilac crocodile, star deer . The 2016 species inventory proposed to include 1,211 species in the updated Red Book, including 600 species of plants and 611 species of animals. Compared with the 2007 Red Book, the number of threatened and endangered species has increased significantly. Big challenge According to the assessment of the Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity (General Department of Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), the conservation of wild animals and plants is facing many challenges and limitations. . The issue of protecting wild species, especially endangered, precious and rare species has not yet been unified in the approach to management and conservation; management regime for species in different categories. Especially in matters of criteria for species identification, the list of endangered, precious and rare species and endangered, precious and rare species are prioritized for protection. An otter belonging to group 1B, imprisoned in an iron cage, is illegally sold by stall owner Yen Tam in Thanh Hoa, Long An province in 2020 for 10 million VND. (Photo: Hung Vo/Vietnam+) Duplicating the list leads to an overlap in management regimes and makes it difficult to apply legal documents as well as handle violations in practice. Specifically, the three-bar box turtle belongs to the list of endangered, precious and rare species prioritized for protection and is not allowed to be traded, but at the same time belongs to group IIB – forest plants and animals that are not yet threatened. extinct, but at risk of being threatened if not strictly managed, limited exploitation and use for commercial purposes. The overexploitation and use of wildlife resources, deforestation, and conversion of forest use purposes also lead to habitat loss of species leading to increasing conflicts between humans and species in the region. nature. Species conservation programs are approved by the authorities, but in practice there are few resources to implement. The demand for illegal and unsustainable consumption of endangered wild species for food, medicine, pets, decoration… still exists. The illegal trade in these species is increasingly sophisticated, organized and complicated, with elements of transnational crime. Law enforcement is still limited and ineffective due to lack of resources, including physical, human and financial facilities. Remuneration regimes and policies for enforcement officers are not commensurate with the high responsibilities and risks when facing this crime. The specialized force’s ability to fight against this type of violation on endangered, precious and rare wild species has not yet kept up with the sophisticated and professional tricks of criminals. Some shortcomings and gaps in legal documents make it difficult to handle violations such as the lack of regulations on handling exhibits. In practice, it may take a lot of time for the investigating agency, the procuracies or the people’s court, the trial panel to make a decision, or it may also take time to get the assessment results when the individuals Live and healthy wild animals need to be treated and immediately released back into the wild, which is very expensive to preserve until the case is heard. Cooperation between enforcement agencies has improved, but there has not been a close coordination mechanism, no guidance on the investigation process after the arrest of wildlife individuals or products, including: including the process of making and transferring dossiers from customs, border guards and forest rangers to the police, assessment agencies, procuracies and courts; handling wild animals and their parts after confiscation. In addition, the awareness of the whole society towards species conservation, biodiversity conservation has been improved, but there are still many limitations. Some parts of the people still have a high demand to use endangered wildlife, leading to increased hunting, trading and consumption. Awareness of all levels and branches has been raised, but not enough and not drastically to contribute to the conservation of endangered, precious and rare species effectively and comprehensively. Deputy Director of the Center for Education for Nature (Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations) Bui Thi Ha said that corruption is also a big obstacle to wildlife law enforcement efforts because there are With the help of a number of corrupt officials, many criminals have been and are blatantly committing crimes without fear of being discovered, arrested, put on trial or facing punishment. prison./.

The laboratory where Frankenstein’s monster was born in the movie released in 1931. Photo: Universal Studios Licensing LLC. On a stormy, rainy night, the mad scientist is trying to revive an inanimate monster he created by piecing together parts of an exhumed corpse. After receiving a high-voltage electric shock, it suddenly moved its long, bony fingers and raised one arm. “It’s alive! It’s alive! It’s alive!” shouted the doctor. It was a memorable scene in the Universal Pictures film adaptation of Mary Shelley’s horror novel Frankenstein (or The Modern Prometheus) (first published 1818), starring Mary Shelley. by Vladimir Karloff as the monster. The work became a blockbuster at the box office when it hit the public’s taste for horror cinema, and paved the way for Universal to release a series of iconic monster movies later, including The Mummy (Mummy), Dracula (Vampire), Creature from the Back Lagoon (Creature from the Black Lagoon), … Whether emerging from the swamp, lying in an Egyptian stone coffin or patched up like Frankenstein, … all these monsters are the product of fascination (and sometimes even fear). ) of the community towards science. More than just the creative work of the design and makeup team, the knowledge (which may still be limited) about amphibians, mummification, anatomy … has been borrowed to bring to mind. aghast. Frankenstein movie poster. Photo: Universal Studios Licensing LLC. Shelley was only 18 years old when she wrote Frankenstein while on vacation in Lake Geneva. A special lover of science, she often attends lectures to keep up to date with new trends and research, including the relatively new field of electrophysiology. She was very interested in the work of 18th-century Italian scientist Luigi Galvani, whose initial experiments showed that electric currents could cause (dead) frog legs to twitch, and then used it as inspiration for Dr. Frankenstein. It was also during this period that scientists began to learn about the nature of resuscitation techniques—sometimes bringing back a person thought to have drowned by manipulating air into their trachea and squeezing their abdomen. Shelly’s own mother had experienced such an emergency when she jumped off the Putney Bridge on the Thames, two years before she was born. More than a century later, Universal adapted her novel into a Frankenstein movie, and then released another monster classic: The Mummy (1932) – also starring Boris Karloff as the monk Imhotep, a master of mummification; The film tells the story of a soul punished by being buried alive and accidentally released to return to earth to cause chaos. Before that, in 1922, a team led by British archaeologist Howard Carter opened the tomb of the famous King Tutankhamun, which has remained a mystery for 3,000 years. The event ignited the curiosity and imagination of millions around the world, and sparked a passion for ancient Egypt – decades after the original release of The Mummy. “Monsters have always been a mixture of conscious and unconscious fear.” – Leo Braudy, author of Haunted: On Ghosts, Witches, Vampires, Zombies and Other Monsters of the Natural and Supernatural Worlds , Witches, Vampires, Mummy and other monsters of the Natural and Supernatural worlds) commented. For example, the fear of vampire bites in the movie Dracula (released in 1931) was based on Bram Stoker’s medieval horror novel (published 1897) and the play Dracula ( performed in 1924) by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston. Vampire legends existed for hundreds of years before Stoker published the novel, but researchers believe it was deadly mid-19th-century epidemics like cholera and tuberculosis that inspired and spread vampire myths. “In the absence of science, vampire theory is easy to accept. If someone gets TB and spreads it to other family members, they’ll blame the vampires instead of the bacteria.” — Sarah Crawford, longtime curator at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles , identify. In the movie Creature From the Black Lagoon (released in 1954), designer Milicent Patrick did a lot of research on prehistoric animals and sea creatures to shape the vision for the character “Gill-Man”. She is especially fascinated by the illustrations of reptiles and amphibians that lived about 400 million years ago on Earth. Director Jack Arnold drew inspiration for Gill-Man from the story of the long-extinct coelacanth and thought to be the ancestor of land animals, with unusual fins (which look like like limbs) allowing it to crawl from the ocean to the land. The connection between the sea and land animals, along with the story that the producer heard at a dinner party about a half-human, half-fish creature living in the Amazon River, … all have been brought into creation by Patrick. Figure. Designer Milicent Patrick sketched the sea monster Gill-Man in Creature from the Back Lagoon. Photo: Universal Studios Licensing LLC. Science has not only inspired characters on screen, but has also led to technical experiments and inventions in the field of filmmaking. While staging Dr. Frankenstein’s lab, designer Kenneth Strickfaden – who spent many years as an electrician – devised techniques to simulate ball lightning and electrical discharges. And artist Jack Pierce – the head of Universal’s makeup department – spent eight hours with Karloff on The Mummy, using a mixture made of fuller’s earth and more than 150 feet of ice. gauze. It was the science behind Hollywood’s iconic monsters that made the movies of this golden age even more “horrifying”. In terms of perception, perhaps most viewers know those creatures do not exist. But the thrill and excitement of watching the dramas on the screen made them think, What if they really existed? “Horror movies have been continuously produced, more than any other genre. Because they (monsters and horror things) are, to a certain extent, born within our selves, and as such can never fail,” Braudy said.

Over the past 10 years, many conservation initiatives and solutions have contributed to effectively protecting the biodiversity common home. (Photo: Hung Vo / Vietnam +) After more than 6 months of launching, the program “Honoring organizations and individuals with many contributions to the conservation of wild species in the period 2010-2020” by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment The launch is coming to the last stage. It is expected that the ceremony to honor individuals and organizations participating in the program will be held on May 21, 2021, in response to the Day Biodiversity international (May 22). Thousands of species are named According to the representative of Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity (Vietnam Environment Administration, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), in the past decade, Vietnam has witnessed many changes in economic, social and conservation life. biodiversity is no exception. Although operating in silence, scientists and conservation organizations have contributed to creating a brilliant decade of biodiversity with a series of research, new species discovery and initiatives and solutions. effective conservation. Especially, right after launching the above honoring program in October 2020, the program has received many records from individuals and organizations working in the field of species conservation. Many animal and plant species have been studied and discovered for the first time for science and published in prestigious international journals. Among thousands of species of animals and plants recognized and recognized internationally, many species of insects, reptiles, amphibians … are classified as critically endangered, and should be prioritized for conservation; Many studies have found endemic species only in Vietnam. Some newly discovered species include scorpion Euscorpiopsis cavernicola (in Ba Be district, Bac Kan province) and scorpion Vietbocap thienduongensis (Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh province). In addition, precious tree species such as Moc Huong (Aristolochia), genus Arachniodes, … have also been studied on phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships for practical application. Through research, many valuable plant species in medicine and production are identified and have reasonable conservation plans. Many outstanding landmarks in conservation Along with species discovery research, the program honors organizations and individuals with many contributions to the work wildlife conservation the 2010-2020 period also recognizes many initiatives and solutions, contributing to improving the efficiency of efforts of all levels, sectors and the society in species conservation. The precious otter who was illegally confined and sold at the farm product disguised as Thanh Hoa, Long An province, was rescued by the competent forces after receiving a report from the reporter of VietnamPlus. (Photo: Hung Vo / Vietnam +) The first solution mentioned by the Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity is the successful breeding and conservation of white-crowned Lei Lamas – a rare and endemic bird of Vietnam. In addition, the pairing and spawning of the White-bellied Cao Sand Bird has also been successful, serving environmental education and conservation in the future. Besides breeding solutions for endangered species, other initiatives also focus on wildlife rescue. Among them, there are groups of volunteers who have rescued 100 sea turtles, of which 94 are still alive and have been returned to the sea; or process of rescuing bears, raising bears in semi-wild environments … In particular, the program received a story from someone who used to be a hunter but now leads a voluntary group to conserve white-nosed langurs in Quang Binh. Thereby, it contributes to preventing the impact of the quarrying program, protecting the habitat for langurs. As a result, in 2018, the People’s Committee of Quang Binh province has partially planned the forest into a special-use forest to balance conservation and exploitation needs. In addition, some units also made a mark with the initiative of using camera traps to investigate wild species in some key areas or the application of technologies in monitoring and re-release. wild animals and preserve the gifts given to Vietnam by the Creator. Assessing the significance of the program, professor-doctor of science Dang Huy Huynh, ASEAN Biodiversity Hero, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Nature and the Environment said that this is a conservation initiative. of great significance, helping to motivate and encourage the development of the scientific research movement on biodiversity. During the working process, the review board found that the submitted documents were in compliance with the rules, some documents were carefully prepared, showing the enthusiasm for the program. The dossiers are evaluated on the basis of selection criteria in the issued rules./.

Elephants in the Central Highlands. (Photo source: PV / Vietnam +) According to the General Department of Environment (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), the subject of International Day of Biodiversity (22/5) in 2021 was chosen by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity “We are part of the solution.” The theme was chosen to continue the cross-cutting theme of 2020 “Our solutions are available in nature” as a reminder that biodiversity remains an important solution, an option for Sustainable Development . From nature-based solutions to climate issues, health, food security, drinking water and sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity is the foundation on which we can rebuild for the better. Due to the complicated ongoing COVID-19 epidemic around the world, the 2021 International Day of Biodiversity will be commemorated through an online campaign. In a new study published in the Journal of Frontiers in Forest and Global Change (excluding Antarctica), scientists identified only 3% of the world’s land is still ecologically intact, with healthy primitive populations and undisturbed habitat. This number is only for the nature of “approximate estimate.” The study used range maps of 7,000 word species Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Most of the data is from mammals but also includes some birds, fish, plants, reptiles and amphibians. The world is in a biodiversity crisis, many wildlife populations, from lions to insects, are plunging in numbers, mainly due to habitat loss. Some scientists believe that the 6th mass extinction on Earth is beginning and will have serious consequences for food, clean water and air. Vietnam is one of the most important and biodiversity countries in the world, both in terms of marine and terrestrial ecosystems (especially forest and mangrove ecosystems). According to the Vietnam UNESCO Office, 238 priority ecological zones have been recognized around the world, of which 6 are located in Vietnam. Several nature reserves in Vietnam are recognized by UNESCO for their unique universal natural value, including 3 natural heritages, two global geopark, 9 biosphere reserves and two Wetlands are located in two world biosphere reserves. However, Vietnam’s conservation efforts are facing various difficulties and challenges such as: biodiversity degradation trends have become more important due to deforestation and illegal logging. legal, overexploitation, economic growth and population pressure, have enormous impacts on the key services these ecosystems provide. According to the Department Nature conservation and biodiversity (Vietnam Environment Administration), nature-based solutions is a term that can be used to describe alternative and non-traditional approaches to environmental problems such as flooding, water scarcity or soil erosion, by exploiting natural capital. Can Gio mangrove forest. (Photo: Manh Linh / VNA) Solutions could include restoring and conserving coral reefs and mangrove belts to increase resilience to coastal flooding and sea level rise, serving as the first line of defense for dissipation. energy waves and vegetation to reduce the risk of landslides and create green belts to help replenish groundwater in areas facing water scarcity. In response to the International Day of Biodiversity on May 22, 2021, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will honor organizations and individuals who have made many contributions to wildlife conservation in the 2010-2020 period. According to the General Department of Environment (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), the Selection Council is composed of managers from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and other Leading scientists in the field of species conservation such as Professor, Doctor of Science Dang Huy Huynh – Biodiversity Hero of ASEAN. The dossiers to participate in the program honoring organizations and individuals with many contributions to the conservation of wild species are evaluated on the basis of the selected selection criteria. Each profile is consulted by all experts in the council, ensuring transparency and fairness. According to the Selection Council, the discovery of new species, initiatives and solutions for biodiversity conservation is of an important nature. Documents participating in this program show that there are thousands of named wild flora and fauna species, many of which are endemic to Vietnam. Many initiatives and solutions contribute to improving the efficiency of efforts of all levels, sectors and the society in species conservation. Initiatives on reproduction, breeding and successful conservation of rare species, care solutions, propaganda and especially initiatives from volunteer groups to protect species life and inspire those who has been and wants to contribute to this field. Scientists believe that the first time the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has an initiative to organize a program to encourage and encourage the development of the scientific research movement on biodiversity is a meaningful activity taking place. In the context of increasing climate change, the rate of biodiversity degradation of our country and the world tends to increase. It is expected that the Ceremony to honor individuals and organizations participating in the program will be held on May 21, 2021./.

A new species of pumpkin toad has been discovered in Brazil. Researchers have uncovered a new species of pumpkin toad that is orange in color, fluorescence glow in the dark and is as small as 1 cm in size in Brazil’s Atlantic forest. This amphibian, Brachycephalus rotenbergae, is a relative of at least 36 species of pumpkin toad, named after the pumpkin popular for Halloween. Like the venom-releasing frog, the pumpkin toad’s vibrant color signals predators that their skin carries a toxin that can be lethal. This new species of pumpkin toad was recently described in the journal Plos One . They were found in extensive research efforts across Brazil to find new pumpkin toads. The identification of the organisms is crucial to the country’s biodiversity conservation, especially in areas with as many species as the Atlantic forest, where 93% of its area is lost, experts say. Initial cover due to deforestation and agricultural development. A small pumpkin toad crawls past the bright orange mushroom, which is a common feature of their habitat. Brazil has the highest number of amphibian species in the world, at least one thousand species. But amphibians worldwide are among the most vulnerable groups of vertebrates, especially when it comes to climate change. Lead researcher Professor Ivan Sergio Nunes Silva, scientist at São Paulo State University, said: “As a scientist, the happiest moment is when you see something new and you are the only one. best know. But unfortunately, today, we are losing undetermined species faster than the rate at which new species are described. Interesting story about new toads Images of the newly discovered pumpkin toad. Photo: Plos One. Professor Nunes and his team found the pumpkin toad B. rotenbergae through 76 field surveys between 2018 and 2019 in the Mantiqueira Mountains 2,132 meters above sea level. They spent hours wandering the cliffs and streams flowing through the forest. Most pumpkin toad species are quite similar. They are particularly tiny frogs, among the smallest in the world with a length of just over a centimeter and often have bright, tangerine skin that secretes a powerful nerve agent. Back in the lab, the team took DNA samples from 71 toads and compared them with samples of known pumpkin toads. They also analyze their physical characteristics, bone structure, behavior and record their mating calls to determine that this is a new species. The new pumpkin toad, for example, is smaller than other known toads, with a smaller snout. Other unusual features include black, matte patterns on the skin and a preference for living at higher altitudes in the Atlantic forest. The creatures cannot hear the sound of their calls because their ears are not yet developed, Nunes said. “Their communication is basically visual, because these toads can communicate by opening their mouths,” he added. In particular, it is a mystery that B. rotenbergae has bone fragments on its skull and back that fluoresce and can glow through the skin under ultraviolet light, a wavelength that they can see, But humans are not. Only two other pumpkin toad species are known to emit fluorescence, Nunes added. He doesn’t know what fluorescent bones are used for, but they might play a role in communication. This species has patches of bones on its skull and back that glow green through the skin under UV rays. Photo: Plos One. There is much more work to be done Professor Michel Varajao Garey, of the Latin American Institute of Natural Sciences and Life (ILACVN), said Professor Nunes and colleagues’ approach is comprehensive. Such a thorough approach could “reveal unknown diversity” and possibly reclassify some mislabeled species. In fact, up until this study, the authors say, B. rotenbergae was misclassified as B. ephippium because it looked so similar. The number of new species is unknown, but Nunes and his colleagues hope to conduct more surveys to find out where it lives, as well as look for more pumpkin toad species. Most of the rest of the Atlantic forest are protected in nature reserves, but these areas are still threatened by deforestation, climate change, and land use change. Although deforestation rates are declining in Brazil, more than 28,000 acres of forest land were cleared in 2018. Professor Nunes hopes the discovery will inspire governments and organizations to better take care of their resources, including closely monitoring endangered species. “Nature is only stable if it’s complex enough,” says Professor Nunes. This shows that biodiversity is paramount for a country as large as Brazil. “

Office tree frog Rhacophorus vanbanicus in the wild. The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology said that the Institute’s scientists, in collaboration with Russian and German scientists, have discovered and described three new species of tree frog in Lao Cai and Ha Giang. Based on analysis of morphology, molecular genetics and bio-sound, a team of researchers from the Vietnam Museum of Nature, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and Researchers from the Serbian Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences and the scientists of Cologne Zoo, Germany have discovered and described three new species of tree frogs including Rhacophorus vanbanicus, Zhangixalus franki and Zhangixalus jodiae. The table frog species Rhacophorus vanbanicus Kropachev, Orlov, Ninh, and Nguyen, 2019 Named after the standard sampling site in Van Ban district, Lao Cai province, Vietnam at an altitude of 900m, with evergreen forest habitat on high humidity rocky mountains with frequent fog and drizzle. The table frog frog features a brown back with two green stripes on the back from the back of the eye to the groin and forms a green triangle at the top, the underside of the thighs yellow-orange with 5-7 characteristic black nodules. This species is of medium size with an adult male body length of about 34.8 mm, head width less than head length. This finding is published in specialized journals Russian Journal of Herpetology. Zhangixalus jodiae in nature (A & B), and front and hind limbs (C & D). Goat tree frog species Zhangixalus jodiae Nguyen, Ninh, Orlov, Nguyen, and Ziegler, 2020 Named after Dr. Jodi Rowley – The Australian Museum for her outstanding contributions to the study of amphibian classification in Asia. This species was found in Quan Ba ​​district, Ha Giang province. In terms of morphology, the new species has an average body length in the range of 36.1-39.8 mm, the width and length of the head are equivalent, the tip of the snout is round, with the teeth of the cane leaves; front and hind limbs have swimming membranes; blotchy green back, cream-colored armpits with large black spots, groin and anterior-posterior part of thigh with alternating black and orange spots. Genetically, the new species is on the same branch as Z. nigropunctautus, Z. yaoshanensis, Z. pinglongensis and Z. chenfui. Z. jodiae had the closest genetic distance to Z. pinglongensis was 3.57%. Biological tones were recorded at 17.3-20.9 degrees Celsius with each vocal lasting 1.1 seconds and consisted of six notes, each note about 6 milliseconds, the distance between two notes about 15 milliseconds. . The dominant frequency is 2.0kHz. The notes of a voice have variable amplitude, with the last note having the smallest amplitude relative to the other notes. The discovery of this new species of frog was published in the journal Journal of Natural History. Standard specimen of Zhangixalus franki (A & B) and a drawing of anterior and posterior swimming membrane (C). Species Frank tree frog – Zhangixalus franki Ninh, Nguyen, Orlov, Nguyen, and Ziegler, 2020 named after the late German professor, doctor, veterinarian and amphibian conservationist Frank Mutschmann in honor and recognition of his support in amphibian research and conservation projects. residing in Vietnam. The new species can be distinguished from other species in the Zhangixalus genus based on a combination of the following characteristics: large body (from 77.9-85.8 mm in males), a blue dorsal surface with spots small dark brown, with white stripes separating the upper face and lower face of the body, developed parotid glands. This species was found at an altitude of 1,300 m in Quan Ba ​​district, Ha Giang province. The typical habitat is tropical evergreen forest on the mountains. Genetically, the new species in the same branch is most closely related to the Z. duboisi species, the genetic distance between the two species is about 2.51%. Findings about this species were published in the journal European Journal of Taxonomy.

Axolotl is a species of salamander being hunted by the world science world. The reason is its unique feature: Many lost parts can be reproduced.

According to the New York TimesAxolotl also has an unusual feature compared to other amphibians that do not undergo molting, change shape. They have a pale pink, yellow or gray, black appearance; Spotted body with a smiling face.

Today, this animal is in danger of being threatened by the environment and by human hunting. Axolotl survives only in the canals of Lake Xochimilco, the southernmost tip of Mexico.

The mystery of the genome of a self-regenerating animal

Researcher Randal Randal Voss, University of Kentucky, USA, said: “It is difficult to find things that they cannot replicate: From limbs, tail, spinal cord, eyes, even the retina in some “We have also seen the process of regenerating half of their brains.”

Thanks to this feature, the genome of Axolotl has become something of interest to the scientific community. Recently, in an upcoming article to be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on April 13, geneticists have a clearer view of the salamanders genome. This is on the chromosome scale, in the folded form. The study was chaired by the authors at the Vienna Center for Biology, BioCenter Institute for Molecular Pathology, Austria.

The study looks at how the genome of Axolotl folds inside at the molecular level and the position of the DNA sequences that regulate the genes involved in the regeneration and healing of cells. When fully stretched, each human DNA strand is longer than 1.8 m. However, Axolotl’s DNA strand is more than 9.1 m long.

A wild Axolotl in a conservation laboratory in Mexico in 2014. Photo: AFP.

“This work has arranged the DNA fragments in the Axolotl genome in the right order, as if it were on a chromosome. This is very important because in all vertebrates, genes are turned on and off with a controlled sequence located quite far from them, ”says biochemist Elly Tanaka, Vienna Institute of Molecular Pathology, BioCenter. about Axolotl but not participating in this project, reviews.

She also said that the study of the authors at the BioCenter Molecular Pathology Institute is very important because it will answer the question of whether the regeneration mechanism in Axolotl can be activated in humans.

After regenerating the entire gene in the folded form of Axolotl, the authors expect to simulate it in 3D in the future.

Two mysterious genes of Axolotl

According to Professor, Dr. Parker Flowers, Craig Crews Laboratory, Yale University, USA, Axolotl regenerates, self-healing most organs and organs after any injury. Therefore, it is difficult to have any injuries to kill this salamander.

If scientists find the genetic basis for the regenerative ability of Axolotl, they may discover something unprecedented. It is a way of restoring damaged tissues in humans.

But that job is not easy. Because the characteristics of the species Axolotl are not like humans. They have a larger genome than any other animal that humans have ever sequenced. This genome is even 10 times larger than the entire human genome.

At the end of January 2020, Professor Parker and his colleagues in the magazine post eLife revealed they have found the key to these problems. The authors found a way to disrupt the complex genome of the salamander Axolotl and identify at least two genes involved in post-traumatic body regeneration.

According to the Science Daily, the advent of next-generation gene-editing and sequencing technologies has allowed researchers to list hundreds of gene candidates that can reproduce the extremities. However, the giant size of the Axolotl genome produces repetitive DNA fragments, making it difficult to dissect and analyze them.

Researcher Lucas Sanor, co-author of the Craig Crews lab project, used multi-step gene editing to record baseline markers, tracking 25 genes believed to be involved in the regeneration process. Genus in Axolotl. Thanks to that, they identified two genes in blastema dividing cells responsible for regenerating part of their tail when injured or severed.

But that’s not all. Professor Parker emphasized that Axolotl’s body still has many similar genes. And humans have similar DNA with Axolotl so scientists can discover how to activate tissue, cells speed up wound repair, regenerate lost parts.

Axolotl salamander has a pale pink, yellow or gray, black appearance, and a smiling face. Photo: Getty Images.

Decoding the entire gene of Axolotl for the first time

Before the study of Professor Parker Flowers and colleagues, at the end of November 2018, the group of authors at the University of Kentucky, USA, published the most complete simulation of Axolotl’s DNA. Research published in the journal Genome Research, is considered to pave the way for transformations in human regenerative medicine.

Many animals are able to perform some degree of regeneration and self-healing. However, Axolotl is the only species that is nearly limitless in terms of this ability. Associate Professor, Dr. Jeramiah Smith, University of Kentucky and colleagues decided to find answers about the healing superpower of Axolotl through sequencing all genes.

Based on previous research, the authors have mapped more than 100,000 pieces of DNA onto chromosomes, the genetic makeup in the nucleus of each cell. The Axolotl genome is the largest product assembled at this level.

The authors used a design mapping method, which relies on the fact that the strands of DNA are physically close together on one chromosome and tend to move together. To determine the specific DNA of Axolotl, they grafted Axolotl with the tiger salamander – a close relative. They were then mated back to generation F1 with purebred Axolotl.

The process of regeneration of the extremities of Axolotl salamander. Photo: eLife.

Tracking genotypes on 48 out of all F2, they were able to deduce which DNA sequences belong to the Axolots and where they are located in the 14 chromosomes of amphibians. During the study, the authors identified a genetic mutation that causes heart defects in Axolotl.

“Just a few years ago, no one thought it was possible to decode genomes with more than 30 GB capacity. Now, we have many methods to approach and open up the ability to decode large genomic animals more often, “says biological researcher Jeramiah Smith.

The team also hopes that understanding the axolotl’s post-sequencing genome will help in future medicine. “Now we can go into the genome sequence, find out what makes this salamander strange. Hopefully one day, we can make the collected information useful for human therapy, the potentials that may not be fully exploited of each part of the body ”, Mr. Voss identify.