Since 1997, scientists have discovered an astonishing 1068 new species of creatures in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, reports the HCM City Tropical Biology Institute.

The Mekong Delta’s Kien Luong limestone system in Kien Giang province has, says WWF, the greatest biodiversity in the world.

Of this number, there are 519 plants, 279 fish species, 88 species of amphibians and 88 species of spiders.

In addition, scientists have found hundreds of species of mountain snails, spineless animals, creatures that live in caves, plants only growing on limestone-mountains and sea creatures in this region.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) say this result is “outstanding” compared to similar wetland regions elsewhere.

The Mekong Delta’s Kien Luong limestone system in Kien Giang province has, says WWF, the greatest biodiversity in the world. Scientists have unveiled many endemic species of animals and new species of creatures there.

WWF said in general that biodiversity in the Mekong Delta is abundant. There are around 20,000 species of vegetation, 1300 species of fish, 1200 species of birds and 430 species of mammals.

The Mekong Delta is the 39,000 square kilometer region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through nine distinct channels. Much of it is flooded during the wet season.

VietNamNet/TTXVN