La Sierra biologist leads discovery of 19 new geckos in war-torn Myanmar

La Sierra Professor of Biology Lee Grismer led scientific teams in October 2016 and in May 2017 in researching a tiny region of the nation formerly known as Burma, a country ravaged for decades by civil war. Grismer, his wife, Marta Grismer, and eight other researchers from U.S. and Southeast Asian educational and conservation institutions combed remote limestone mountains and towers known as karsts looking for geckos new to science. Local villagers, forestry officials and Buddhist monks served as guides for the scientists who in the dead of night when geckos are most active searched thick karst forests by flashlight and belly-crawled into the hearts of limestone caves. They faced any number of threats as some areas were held by rebel forces. In the end, their efforts were rewarded with the collection of 19 previously unknown geckos arrayed in various colors and patterns, among them vibrant purple with mottled brown stripes, black bands on pale yellow, and deep brown with jagged mustard stripes.

A scientific article describing 12 new bent-toed geckos from the genus Cyrtodactylusis expected to publish the second week of October in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. A description of three new species of dwarf geckos from the genus Hemiphyllodactylus was published in the Journal of Natural History on Sept. 6. The first week of October Grismer was completing a scientific manuscript on the remaining four species for the Journal of Natural History.

The large number of new animals discovered by the researchers also attracted an outpouring of media attention with articles appearing on Oct. 6 in “New Scientist” magazine, Phys.org, Geek.com, ZMEScience and other outlets.

One species of Hemiphyllodactylus, the dwarf gecko, was found in Phapant Cave, a complex of three caves in Shan State along a narrow river. Grismer named the gecko species ‘tonywhitteni’ in honor of Dr. Tony Whitten of Fauna & Flora International, a non-governmental organization and conversation nonprofit based in England that wants the region’s habitat preserved. The nonprofit organization asked the scientists to study the remote area of Myanmar, a tiny sector roughly 56 miles by 31 miles. Grismer noted in his manuscript the inspiration of Whitten who “championed a broad range of conservation efforts in Indonesia and the Asia Pacific well over a quarter of a century.”

Research team member Perry Wood, a former student of Grismer’s at La Sierra University and a doctoral candidate at Brigham Young University participated in both expeditions. He helped collect and prepare specimens, generated molecular data for phylogenetic analysis, and helped prepare manuscripts. “The excitement of discovering a new species that no one has ever seen before never gets old,” he said. “During these two trips, we found so many new species, it was like being a kid in a candy store.”

All together the scientists explored upwards of 18 caves during the two expeditions, but much investigative work remains to be done in the country, Grismer says. The scientists identified 44 karst towers and more than 40 additional caves yet to be surveyed. The geckos are unique in that they occupy microhabitats on limestone karst hills in an ecologically rich region largely unexplored and thus unprotected from cement quarrying and other development. Limestone is a key material in the making of cement. “Until karst habitats in Myanmar are thoroughly investigated, a significant portion of this country’s herpetological diversity will remain underestimated and unprotected,” Grismer wrote in one of the scientific manuscripts. 

“Some of the regions where we are discovering these new micro-endemic species are very small, and further development of these areas could be a major threat to the existence of these species,” Wood said. “We need to document the biodiversity of the planet. However, we cannot control the politics in these countries, sometimes making it impossible for us to work.”

The intrusion of commercial development was evident to the scientists as they pursued their work. At times, mining blasts accompanied their investigations of limestone habitats as cement companies and smaller village operations carried out excavations in parts of the research territory.

In addition, some of the area the researchers studied is held by rebels. The scientists relied on connections with the Myanmar forestry department to help them navigate dangerous regions.

Despite precautions, they encountered treacherous situations. In one instance, they needed to study an area near a village held by rebel soldiers. A village chief agreed to inform the rebels that the scientists would be searching the area at night with flashlights, but forgot to pass along the message, Grismer said. Part way into their night time hunt for geckos, Grismer received a cell phone call from a team member with instructions that all flashlights must be turned off and the researchers must sit still on the ground and remain very quiet. Forty-five minutes later, after much yelling in a local language by the rebels, the scientists were taken to another village and lined up. Though the researchers feared the worst, the rebels simply took their photos, checked their paperwork and told them they could leave.

In another instance, the researchers attempted to drive to an isolated limestone karst in Mon State. They were stopped by a barbed wire barricade. Guards allowed them to pass through to a village where they met the chief at a local eatery. The village was full of armed military soldiers. “They were there for our protection,” Grismer said. “I couldn’t go anywhere without these guys surrounding me with their guns drawn.”

At times, they were aided by Buddhist monks whose monasteries were located near sacred caves the researchers wanted to explore. Some monks would share tea and crackers and provided the scientists with sleeping accommodations. In one monastery, a female monk led village children in singing their lessons as the researchers rested nearby. “Staying in that monastery was one of the most peaceful experiences I’ve had,” Grismer said. Sometimes they were told by the monks that fighting was taking place nearby and they would either need to leave immediately or stay at the monastery until the fighting stopped, he said.

 “These experiences put into perspective that documenting the biodiversity of the planet is a serious and dangerous task,” said Wood. “The experience with the rebel forces that night was an awakening that this is a serious situation. The only thing you can think of is how are we going to get out of this. One thing that I have learned from Lee during these situations is that you cannot panic, because when you do, that is when things go wrong.”

Grismer’s herpetological explorations will take him back to Myanmar this month. He plans to fly there Oct. 12 to research Kayah State, an area bordering Thailand that has never been the subject of a focused herpetological expedition. Joining him will be his wife and scientists from California State University, Northridge, Villanova University and the University of Science, Malaysia. He will return to La Sierra University on Nov. 5. In 2018, the Grismers will take their knowledge of the new-found gecko species to Mandalay University in Myanmar where they will give a workshop, and to Pilsen in the Czech Republic where Lee Grismer will give a plenary talk for a conference at a zoo.

Over the course of more than three decades, Grismer has found 176 new species of amphibians and reptiles in Southeast Asia and the Baja Peninsula, often under treacherous conditions. Discovering new animals, even under dangerous circumstances, is about the preservation of ecosystems and ultimately human life, says Grismer. “When ecosystems collapse, people die. It’s a no-brainer.”