New discovery by scientists in the largest cave on the planet

(Dan Tri) - Scientists have just discovered a new species of snail in Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. The research team has proposed to name this new species Son Doong cone snail.

On January 8, the leader of the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park Management Board ( Quang Binh ) said that Vietnamese scientists have just discovered and collected a new animal species at sinkhole 1, Son Doong Cave.

The newly discovered animal belongs to the snail species, genus Calybium, family Helicinidae, order Cycloneritida, class Gastropoda, kingdom Animalia, and is proposed by the research team to be named Son Doong cone snail.

New snail species discovered in Son Doong Cave (Photo provided by Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park).

The new snail species was described in the project "Research on biodiversity of Son Doong cave system, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh province for conservation and sustainable development", chaired by Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Lien, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Museum of Nature.

Laboratory photo of a new snail species discovered in Son Doong Cave (Photo: Provided by Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park).

Currently, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park records 2,954 species of vascular plants, belonging to 1,007 genera, 198 families, 63 orders, 12 classes, 6 phyla. Of which 111 species are in the Vietnam Red Book, 121 species are in the World Red Book.

Regarding animals, 1,399 species belonging to 835 genera, 289 families, 66 orders, 12 classes, 4 phyla were recorded. Of these, 82 species are listed in the Vietnam Red Book and 116 species are listed in the World Red Book.

Son Doong Cave is located in the middle of Phong Nha - Ke Bang forest of Quang Binh province, first discovered by a local in 1990.

In 2009, Son Doong was discovered by the British Royal Cave Association and announced as the largest cave on the planet. Since its announcement, Son Doong Cave has shocked the world with its incredibly huge size and unique cave formations that cannot be found anywhere else.

In 2014, Quang Binh province allowed Son Doong Cave to be exploited for tourism, with the number of visitors not exceeding 1,000 per year.

After a decade of being open to visitors, the world's largest cave has welcomed more than 7,500 people. Notably, about 20 people have conquered this cave 2-8 times.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/phat-hien-moi-cua-cac-nha-khoa-hoc-trong-hang-dong-lon-nhat-hanh-tinh-20250108141725248.htm