Pancake catfish

Scientists discovered this elusive species in fast-flowing cold water in a high remote location in the mountains of Myanmar. Not much is known about the pancake catfish and scientists believe it may be highly susceptible to environmental change in the future.

Leaf-toed Gecko

The leaf-toed gecko has two prominent ‘racing stripes’ the full length of its body, from snout to tail. These limestone dwelling geckos have an incredibly unique coloring that has not been characterized in other geckos.

“There are many more species out there waiting to be discovered and tragically, many more that will be lost before that happens. Ensuring that large reserves are designated for wildlife, along with increased efforts to close illegal wildlife trade markets, will go a long way to conserving the extraordinary wildlife diversity in the Mekong region,” says Stuart Chapman, WWF’s Asia-Pacific regional director for conservation impact.