Hanh Ngo
The Ta Kou Bent-toed Gecko, Cyrtodactylus takouensis, is a member of the gecko family Gekkonidae. This species was discovered in a small tourist cave, Hang To Cave, Ta Kou Mountain, Binh Thuan Province. After its discovery, several herpetofauna field surveys have been undertaken in the surrounding area, however, this species can only be found at the type locality.
This mountain is located within Ta Kou Nature Reserve, but that designation does not prevent tourists from disturbing the animal. The species has been listed as Critically Endangered (CR) in the IUCN Red List since 2018. No field surveys have been focused on determining the distribution and evaluating the population status of this species despite its conservation status.
To fill this gap, this project will be conducted surveys to assess current threats and the population status of this species in Vietnam. The results of the study are expected to provide valuable information on this poorly studied gecko, as well as support in-situ and ex-situ conservation of the critically threatened taxa.