Di sản thiên nhiên thế giới Phong Nha - Kẻ Bàng: Phần 2

Phong Nha Kẻ Bàng National Park is located in the Northern Trường Sơn Ecological Zone, where the plants from the North and South Vietnam come and go. This is the southernmost border of some of the northern plants, such as lichens, water hyacinths, green corn on the mountain, and the northernmost border of some of the southern plants. Phong Nha Kẻ Bàng is also home to a variety of natural creatures. So far, we have identified the presence of nearly 3,000 plant species, 845 living animals, and 370 insects. Most of them are native to the area, including 116 plants and 166 animals, recorded in the Red Book of Vietnam and the Red Book of IUCN. In recent years, Phong Nha Kẻ Bàng has attracted Vietnamese and international scientists to explore. The evidence is that over the past 10 years, we have discovered and released a new species of bird, 13 species of reptiles, 2 species of amphibians, 10 species, and a species of fish for science. It can be said that Phong Nha Kẻ Bàng is the preservation area that has attracted the most attention about science in recent years. It is certain that the natural habitat of the National Park is much more abundant if it is investigated in detail. Our main purpose in this expedition is to focus on the study of the reptiles. This is a group with a very large number of species in Phong Nha Kẻ Bàng, which is also the group that has discovered the most about new species in the National Park. A dragon lies under a tree to hide from the scorching sun of the summer in Quang Binh. Contrasting cells that can change color have helped it disguise itself to cover its eyes. In this position, the dragon, like a part of the tree, makes the reptiles and amphibians hard to detect. The eyes protrude forward, helping it to constantly turn around to observe without turning its head. This is an important factor that helps the reptile to always take the initiative in lurking and hiding from the enemy. On the tree, a female Streptopelia chinensis is about to mature. In just a few days, the baby bird will be taught by its parents the first lessons. It will learn the skills of its parents to fly freely in the sky. In the natural world, the competition between reptiles and amphibians forces each species to adapt and perfect its living skills. The long-tailed dragonfly, Mabua logicaudata, has a rather active method of breeding. Its slender body has helped it to climb up the branches to nestle the larvae. The main food of this species is small insects. Self-nesting is a common way to protect the larvae in the nest. When attacked, they will remove the outer tail and escape. The larvae will be allowed to leave the tail and not follow it anymore. After a while, the larvae will grow back to their original size. However, self-nesting also leaves long-term consequences. It reduces the larvae's flexibility, which means lower social status and slower growth rate. Therefore, self-nesting only occurs when they are in the same path. We are always surprised by the mysterious nature of this country. This centipede is nestling on the back of a skyscraper. When it moves, its legs are connected, like a fence, and it moves slowly. The transmission under the legs will produce adhesion on the path. This is a marker to help the centipede return to its home. If we talk about the centipede, it deserves to be honored as a teacher. The main feature of this insect is that it looks like a dry branch. This is a perfect centipede to find food and hide from predators. Centipedes have a scientific name, Diapheromera fermurata. It belongs to the Phasmatida genus, Orthoptera insecta. This is a symbol of evolution, due to the natural selection that still exists today. The name of the Phasmatida genus is taken from the Latin word phasma, which means magic. The main habitat of this species is tropical rainforests and tropical rainforests. In Vietnam, centipedes are found almost all over the country. About 25 species have been found and named. The landscape of the river is as beautiful as a painting. But hidden under the life-like silence are survival and development battles. Inspiration sees the danger, the centipede hurries to find a way out. It crawls among the bushes to get away from the predators. When there is no way to escape, because there are many centipedes around, the centipede uses its last self-defense shell, hoping to hit the opponent. It wraps around the body, hiding the head inside, making the enemy unknowingly attack. Waiting for the centipedes to leave, the centipede continues its hunt. When the sun sets, in the most beautiful moment of the artist's life, the painting is completed. Sunset is the ideal time for the night animals to move. The sound of the centipede, Phenophrys myrrh, signals that the rainy season is coming. Hidden in the darkness when the night falls is a very rich society of animals. This is the time of the centipede's activity. The centipede often acts as a bait. A centipede, Acanthosaura lepidogaster, is patiently waiting. Its clever camouflage has helped it to hide in the dry leaves to cover its eyes. Centipedes can change color thanks to the special discolored cells in the epidermis. The outer skin layer contains green and yellow discolored cells. The second layer is blue and purple, in the same black color. Due to the interaction and activity of the cells, its skin layer can change the colors corresponding to the environment around it. The color coordination of the cells has helped them to defend themselves and camouflage to catch prey. Blinded by the flashlight, the centipede, Acanthosaura lepidogaster, is not satisfied. Because it can't see in the dark, it keeps circling around but doesn't know where to go. The centipede is a native species and often sleeps in fixed locations. This species is distributed from the North to the North coast of the Navy. We are lucky to meet the centipede, a new species of carnivore that has just been discovered in the National Park. Centipedes often live in caves on rocks. They have black spots on their heads. Neck, body and tail have black-yellow stripes. The centipede was first discovered in the Chà Nò mountain area in 2001. Scientists have named this species Cytodactylus centipedeensis to commemorate the centipede conservation in the National Park. In June 2005, in a research cooperation on the migration of the centipede between the Cologne Zoo and the National Park, German scientist Thomas Zickler discovered a new kind of centipede in the Chà Nò mountain area. This is the centipede, characterized by a flat body with a curved back with a curved tail. Centipedes have black and brown spots on their heads. They often live in caves and rocks in the Chà Nò mountain area. In August 2005, Dr. Thomas Zickler and his colleagues published in the Salamanca magazine. In July 2007, this species was officially named Tropidophorus nogei. Scientists have named this species Cytodactylus nogei to honor Professor Dr. Gunther Nogei, the original director of the Cologne Zoo, for his contributions to the conservation project in the National Park. In the world of big fish and small fish, centipedes must have techniques to protect themselves. Some species have vivid colors and self-defense behaviors, such as intimidation. But most of them often wear camouflage colors on their skin, similar to the living environment, to lure and hide from predators. Centipedes are cold-blooded animals, also known as tropical groups. Their body temperature depends on the surrounding environment. Centipedes' active periods also depend on the environmental temperature. They only go for food when the temperature changes from 18 to 40 degrees Celsius. In the summer, centipedes are less active. They find a warm place to hibernate, and spend most of their time sleeping. In this period, centipedes' metabolism decreases, but they can still go out for food if the weather is warm. In high mountains, centipedes have a complete winter sleep phenomenon. At this time, their metabolism is very low. They are in a slumbering state. When they are hungry, the centipede, Acanthosaurus corotata, uses the form of a slumber and does not actively chase. It lies still on a branch, and then slumbers by changing the color suitable for the environment. Centipede color can change in many hours, even many days. Every time they slumber, they take a few minutes, but in emergency cases, it only takes a few seconds. Centipedes are very hard to detect the presence of predators in the night. When they wake up, everything is too late. The stream is the place where the most carnivorous animals appear. The diversity of the area in the cellar is shown by many strange species. The centipede, Tropidophorus cynicus, is lurking on the rocks to hunt. The food of this species is small insects such as water ants, cockroaches, night worms. The centipede, Tropidophorus cynicus, belongs to the genus of the centipede. They are able to climb and swim, especially swimming very well. They often lie still or gently approach the prey. When the conditions allow, they wag their necks to catch the prey. We caught a centipede, Fichinatus coccicinus, which is in a typical hunting position. The habitat of this species is often in caves, on the banks of spring trees, or by the waterways in the forest. They move quickly on the ground or climb trees. In the cold season, the centipede moves to its nest. It hides in the trees to avoid being seen. Afraid of our presence, the centipede rushes to the spring. It immediately changes to a stone color to blend in with the new environment. The centipede has a flat body, a small and even body. The tail is flat, and has 4 to 8 holes in one thigh. It has a neck color and a back color. These are the basic characteristics to distinguish the centipede from other species. The upper body of the centipede is green, the lower body is white, and the tail has grayish-brown spots with yellowish spots. The centipede eats many types of worms and earthworms. The incubation period of this species is from May to August every year. Every incubation period, there are about 8 to 10 eggs in the soil. Although the earthworms live in many places, the number of them is decreasing due to the food pollution. Therefore, they are at the threat level of the 5th place in the Vietnamese Red Book. In addition to changing colors to disguise, some animals also catch other species to deceive their enemies. The centipede, Lichodon fanciatus, has created a color like a carnivore, a very poisonous centipede. To make a name perfectly, the centipede has to move and breathe like a carnivore. Thanks to this way, the centipede has escaped many predators. Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is an important natural habitat and the most meaningful for the conservation of biodiversity. The biodiversity and hidden values of Phong Nha Ke Bang will be very valuable for conservation and scientific research. Therefore, the conservation of biodiversity of Phong Nha Ke Bang is an important mission not only for Vietnam but also for all mankind.