Russian scientists have announced the discovery of two new spotted toad species after conducting a research in Bao Loc district, Lam Dong province.

The two sedpecies, named Bamboo Spott Toad (kalophrynus cryptophonus) and Hon Ba Spotted Toad (kalophrynus honbaensis), were captured in a bamboo tube at a height of 800 metres above sea level and in forests at an altitude of 1,500 meters, respectively.

Bamboo Spotted Toad

Accordingly, bamboo spotted toad is named after a noun derived from the Greek word while the Hon Ba Spotted Toad is named after the Hon Ba Nature Reserve in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa.

Hon Ba Spotted Toad

They have morphological characteristics which are similar to Kalophrynus interlineatus - a fairly common toad species in Southeast Asia.

"The discovery of the two new toad species in Viet Nam has increased the number of Kalophrynus to three and this proves that the country has high biodiversity in the region,” says researcher Phung My Trung.

Local authorities should take measures to conserve these two species, she suggests.