PHUKET: Invaded by tourists, overrun by developers, Phuket seems to be a place where nature has a less than even chance of survival. But even on Phuket, there are surprises.

A new species of striped gecko has been found on the island, among a total of 367 new species discovered in Southeast Asia in 2012-2013, according to a report by the World Wildlife Foundation.

Its name: Cyrtodactylus phuketensis.

''Adding to the fantastic bestiary of creatures living in the Greater Mekong are new characters such as the Cambodian Tailorbird, Laotian giant flying squirrel, 'hunch-bat of Vietnam,' an iridescent-colored rainbow lizard, a fish who is ahead of the reproduction game, the 'Zorro'-masked water snake, a salmon-colored orchid and a primitive whiteheaded viper. A skydiving gecko, giant flying frog, ''fishzilla'' (walking snakehead fish), brightly-colored bronzeback snake, pufferfish and blind huntsman spider further add to the newly discovered assemblage,'' reports the WWF.

The newly-discovered species include 290 plants, 28 reptiles, 24 fish, 21 amphibians, three mammals and one bird, all found in the Greater Mekong region, which consists of the countries through which the Mekong River winds.

The zebra-striped gecko species is roughly 11.5cm long and looks ''other worldly''.

It's only known habitat so far is in Phuket's Khao Phra Thaeo non-hunting area, where French tourists are quite regularly lost but new species are seldom found.

Reports don't say whether the beautiful striped gecko makes as much noise as its plain household counterpart.

Flying Squirrel, Rainbow Lizard Among 367 New Species Discovered in the Greater Mekong
http://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/flying-squirrel-rainbow-lizard-among-367-new-species-discovered-in-the-greater-mekong