One flora and two amphibian species have been discovered in the centralprovinces of Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong, creating more demand for theprotection of biodiversity around the provinces.

Russian andVietnamese scientists in Hanoi-based Vietnam–Russia Tropical Centre havediscovered Miguelia cruenta, a new orchid species, in Hon Ba NatureReserve in Khanh Hoa.

The orchid is a long plant and grows onrocks or tree trunks. The diameter of the plant's flower is 6–7centimetres. The flora habituates in evergreen forest, on mountain wallsor granite rock cliff at a height of 1,500 metres above sea level.

M.cruenta is the second orchid species found in the reserve in threeyears, and the scientists expect to find more new species at the site.

Atthe nature reserve, the scientists have also found a new amphibianspecies, spotted toad Kalophrynus honbaensis, which is named after HonBa site.

The toad populates in evergreen forests at a height of1,500 metres above sea level. Each individual toad has an average bodylength of 26–36 millimetres and has a different complexion charactercompared to other toad species.

In a trip to Central Highlandsprovince of Lam Dong, the scientists discovered another new toad species- the bamboo toad Kalophrynus cryptophonus - living in bamboo trees at aheight of 800 metres above sea level.

The toad has a body length of 23–30 millimetres, pointed mouth and prickle complexion around jaw.

Thespecies have been announced on vncreatures.net. The scientists expectbetter conservation of nature for the protection of the species andother potential species in this rich biodiversity site.-VNA