A striking blue snake is among a host of new species discovered hidden deep inside a cave.
The turquoise-coloured pit viper – from the Trimeresurus genus – is one of 11 creatures identified during an extensive biodiversity survey.
The snake, which has not yet been formally named, was found during a major expedition exploring remote caves in the Battambang province, in Cambodia.
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The survey was led by wildlife conservation charity Fauna & Flora in collaboration with Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment and the National Hellenic Research Foundation.
Researchers carried out more than 60 cave explorations across 10 limestone hills.
Among the most eye-catching discoveries was the vivid blue pit viper.
The “pit” in its name refers to a heat-sensitive organ located near its nostrils, allowing it to detect warm-blooded prey.
In a statement, Fauna & Flora said the caves revealed a “treasure trove of extraordinary creatures, many found nowhere else on Earth”.
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Alongside the snake, scientists identified several other new species, including geckos, micro-snails and millipedes.
Some are still being formally described.
The caves form part of Cambodia’s karst landscapes – dramatic limestone environments shaped by dissolving rock, creating sinkholes, caverns and underground rivers.
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These isolated formations act like natural laboratories.
Dr Lee Grismer, a biology professor at La Sierra University who supported the survey, said: “Each [karst site] acts as its own laboratory of natural selection and evolution.
“Think of it as their own vignette of biodiversity, where nature is performing the same experiment over and over again independently.”
He added: “If we are truly going to conserve the biodiversity on this planet, we need to understand what is there.
“We can’t protect something if we don’t know it exists.”
The survey also confirmed the presence of threatened species in the region, including the Sunda pangolin, long-tailed macaque and green peafowl.
Sothearen Thi, Karst biodiversity coordinator at Fauna & Flora, warned that many of these habitats remain under threat.
She said: “Cambodia’s karst areas are a treasure trove of scientific secrets waiting to be uncovered.
“But, without sustainable management, we may never find out what these areas truly hold.”
She added that human activities such as quarrying, logging and tourism are putting pressure on these fragile ecosystems.
With much of the landscape still unexplored, scientists believe many more undiscovered species could be hiding in the caves.
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