A news conference on the latest wildlife resource survey in Lishui was held in Liandu district, Lishui, Zhejiang province, on Dec 5.

The survey has documented 15 new species – five in Lishui and 10 in Liandu district, which is major headway in understanding the region's biodiversity.

These new species include the crested ibis under the national first-class protection, greater horseshoe bat, hairy-winged bat, intermediate horseshoe bat, and David's myotis.

In Liandu district, new species include the Paramesotriton aurantius under the national second-class protection, large woodshrike, spotted forktail, Microphysogobio oujiangensis, Chinese fire-bellied newt, Tientai rough-skinned frog, web-toed gecko, Kuhne's grass lizard, Taiwan slug snake, and ferruginous duck.

The ferruginous ducks. [Photo/Tide News]

Liandu district was designated as a pilot zone for the county-level wildlife resource baseline survey in Zhejiang in October 2021, with the survey officially starting in November 2022. This comprehensive survey covered fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Over nearly two years, the survey has meticulously cataloged the types, numbers, and distribution of wild animals in Liandu. A total of 632 species of wild vertebrates were identified, including 16 species under national first-class protection and 87 under national second-class protection.