Twenty-six newly discovered species in Myanmar are under threat as the country's economy grows and opens up the area to deforestation and illicit wildlife trade.
In the last two years, scientists have found more than two dozen new plant and animal species, including a new kind of dragon fish; a frog species with rough, brown skin; and a ginger plant, The Associated Press reported.
According to Win Myo Thu, co-founder of the local environmental group EcoDev, many more undiscovered species are probably living in the biologically diverse country.
One of the recently discovered species is a type of dragon fish, which are popular in Asia. With complex markings similar to a maze on each scale, the "scribbled arowana" has made a splash in the Asian aquatic world, the AP reported.
As the nation's economy expands, scientists worry that the country's flora and fauna won't be protected.
"Unfortunately, no one is paying attention to protecting biodiversity," Win told the AP. "They say OK, we will do this or that, but on ground it's an entirely different story."
Many of Myanmar's nation parks are legally protected, but the effort doesn't go beyond paperwork, according to the AP report.
As Myanmar becomes more open to the outside world, perhaps conservation efforts will grow. Up until now, the country has not had the resources to document its diverse species.
Win spoke to the AP about the nation's "huge, huge knowledge gap" when it comes to its own biodiversity.
"The more research that is done, the more species we are going to find," he told the AP.
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