Chapter 949: Zombie Species

Only then did Li Junge ask Director Meng, "Director Meng, what about the old ginger...... Uh, what do you mean by zombies?"

Director Meng took a deep breath, stabilized his emotions, and then said solemnly: "Piwa, if we don't have a bad look, this is an extremely rare turtle - turtle. ”

"This species is a first-class protected animal in our country, and it is the most endangered species of turtles, and there are only four known to survive in the world, including two at Suzhou Zoo, one at Saiyuan Temple, and one suspected at Hoan Kiem Lake in Vietnam. ”

"And among these individuals, either because of their age or because they have been injured during the fishing process, the males have lost their ability to reproduce. ”

In other words, reptile researchers around the world believe that this species will be declared extinct when these turtles die. ”

"Such a species, there is a special term in the animal kingdom to define it, called zombie species. ”

"Hurry up and put this group of fish back, and wait for us to come over tomorrow to confirm, once it can be identified as a turtle, then it will be a big discovery that shocks the world, and the influence will not be worse than the discovery of the overlord!"

Li Junge was dumbfounded: "Three of them are confirmed, one is suspicious, scare me, Director Meng, you are so irresponsible in scientific research, there are still a lot of them in Dushui Creek, right?"

Director Meng waved his hand weakly: "You don't know how much effort we have put into finding them. Alas...... This thing is called the 'leper turtle' in the Taihu Lake area, and it used to be a species found throughout Asia. Especially around Taihu Lake in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, there used to be a huge population of turtles......"

"It used to be the site of our Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, but ...... But we have been looking for more than ten years, and there is no trace of it!"

After speaking, he took a long breath and lay back on the office chair: "As a scientific research worker, maybe I shouldn't say this, but I really think that you Li Jiagou does have a group of fish essences." It's the one that shelters these children and grandchildren!"

Hanging up the call, Li Junge looked at Miao Wa, who was stunned for a while: "Yes, I have worked hard for more than half a year, and I can't eat." ”

Miao Wa didn't care about this at all, she only felt panicked in her heart: "Even Lao Meng said that there is a group of fish essence in Lijiagou......"

This baby's train of thought is not on the same string as himself and the scientist, Li Junge couldn't help but roll his eyes: "If this is the case, your merits can be greatly developed, and it is enough to enjoy the Erxian Temple, and when the time comes, set up a villain at the feet of Tuanyujing, and write in front of it - Wuxi Lingao Chongxi continues to play the heir of the Holy Prince!

Miao Wa was confused: "Bullying me for reading less books again, can you still talk to people?"

Li Junge is still angry with the group fish that has been raised for more than half a year: "Speaking of human words is the ancestor of Wang Ba'er......! The head inside!In addition to the toad fairy group fish essence in Ao Township, you can count you!

Early the next morning, while Li Junge was still brushing his teeth, Director Meng's phone called: "Hey, Erpi, where are you? ”

Li Junge's mouth foamed: "Then you eat a bean curd meal first, and then take Wuxi No. 3 over, you don't even say in advance what time it will be good to pick you up......"

Director Meng said: "What are you doing, you can't talk anymore, we have arrived at the dock of Kuanguahu Lake!"

"Ouch!" Li Junge hurriedly spit out the foam: "Then you wait, I'll be here soon!"

Director Meng said: "No, we have already gotten on the battery car to forget the valley, we will see you at the thermostatic pool!"

The phone hung up, and Li Junge said to Ayin, who was still grooming: "Director Meng, they are too anxious, this is to kill Jiachuan overnight, and take the earliest boat over, I have to rush to Forget Worry Valley first." ”

Ah Yin said: "Well, you go, if it is really a turtle that there are only four turtles in the world, then our Li Jiagou is too amazing." ”

When Li Junge arrived at the Valley of Forgotten Worries, Miao Wa was only a step ahead of him.

Director Meng introduced to Li Junge: "This is Director Jiang Shangxi of the Reptile Research Office of our research institute, and Piwa is the soft-shelled turtle pond?"

There is a smooth fence around the soft-shelled turtle pond to prevent the soft-shelled turtle from escaping, as well as a gentle slope for feeding and a rest area for spawning areas, which are very conspicuous compared to other fish ponds, and Director Meng can recognize them at a glance.

Li Junge and Miao Wa entered the pool together, took out a few fish from the cracks in the masonry and cement slabs of the single-raised small pond and threw them into the bucket, and handed them to the two: "The big ones are here." ”

The two took the bucket and only glanced at it, and Director Meng smiled: "Turtle! didn't run! hahaha didn't run!"

Director Jiang, an old man in his fifties with a very high hairline, took Li Junge's hand and shook it: "You guys are amazing, it's amazing!

Li Junge didn't know how to reply, could it be that he was just because he was troubled by the two happy old men, and wanted to do some beneficial aquaculture without spending money?

smiled awkwardly: "Hehe...... It's nothing...... That's what I'm supposed to do......"

Director Meng happily patted Li Junge's shoulder: "Let's go, go to your group's aquatic research room, and we'll talk slowly." ”

A few people entered the research room, and Li Junge called several researchers from the Agricultural University to begin a physical examination and measurement of several turtles under the leadership of Director Meng.

After a lot of busy work, and took a bunch of photos and videos, Director Meng also checked the aquaculture log in the system, asked Li Junge to put the turtle back, and then went to the conference room to talk in detail.

Coming to the conference room and sitting down, Director Meng said: "This thing is actually quite embarrassing to say, the reason why this species has become so rare is completely due to a mistake that is not rigorous. ”

Although it was named as early as 1873, the turtle was mistaken for a turtle or a Chinese turtle for a long time, and it was not until 2,000 years later that it was recognized as a valid species. ”

Li Junge couldn't help but cry and laugh: "How can this be?"

Director Jiang said: "It is indeed a great pity that this species was first given to the British Museum by the British Consul in Shanghai, and it is said that it was collected from the neighboring areas of Shanghai, China. ”

"However, it is very regrettable that because the juvenile of the turtle is very similar to the Chinese soft-shelled turtle, that is, the species of the old group fish you raised, and the adult is very similar to the turtle, in the following 100 years, the turtle was not recognized by the Chinese zoological community, and was regarded as a synonym of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle or the turtle. ”

"It was not until 1987 that foreign researchers re-studied the type specimens of the turtle that it regained its status as an effective species. However, by this time, turtles were almost extinct in the wild, and there were very few individuals in their possession. ”

"Previously, all the turtle specimens in zoos and museums in China were incorrectly identified as turtles. Due to the wanton hunting and killing caused by lack of attention and the serious damage to the ecological environment of the habitat, no wild individuals have been found in China since 1972. ”

Li Junge stroked his head: "This product is too unlucky." ”

Director Jiang said: "It's just such a mistake, when you are small, you treat it as a Chinese turtle, and when you are big, you treat it as a turtle." All the way to two thousand and four years wrong. ”

"In order to support the construction of the Department of Biology of Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou Zoo once presented two specimens of the giant turtle commonly known as the 'leper turtle'. ”

"After a detailed study by Zhao Kentang, a professor at the Department of Biology of Suzhou University of Science and Technology, he found that these two so-called 'leper turtles' should actually be independent species. ”

Later, after years of research, Professor Zhao Kentang put forward a lot of evidence to prove that the turtle is indeed a unique species, and he is the first person in China to justify the name of the turtle. ”

Since 1992, he has been running in many ways, trying his best to save the turtle. ”

His appeal finally drew a response, and the citizens of Suzhou have since regarded the turtle as a national treasure. Unfortunately, it was too late. ”

"In 05, the China Zoo Association published an article on its website to introduce the characteristics of the turtle in order to find it from the zoo to which it belongs. Zoos around the country began to verify the identity of all the 'turtles'. ”

Later, he finally found a female turtle at the Beijing Zoo, but died a year later. Then the Shanghai Zoo also found one, but three months later, it also passed away. ”

Director Meng said: "The ecological environment around Taihu Lake and the lower reaches of the Yangtze River has changed dramatically, with cyanobacteria, pollution, boats, infrastructure and other disturbances, resulting in the complete destruction of the turtle's habitat. ”

"Moreover, we Chinese have always liked to tonic turtles and turtles, among which turtles are the largest, have significant targets, and are easier to be hunted and killed. ”

"The Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute has also organized several expeditions to conduct dragnet searches in areas where turtles may live, but nothing has been found. ”

So everyone turned their attention back to the zoo, and finally found a male in Suzhou Zoo, a male and a female in the release pond of Suzhou Xiyuan Temple, and a female in Changsha Zoo. ”

However, the male at Xiyuan Temple also died in 2007, so there are only three left in the country. ”

Director Jiang said: "The latest news is that American researchers have observed a suspected wild turtle in northern Vietnam. There is still one in the Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam, and legend has it that he once carried a sword and gave it to Le Taizu of the Later Le Dynasty in Vietnam to help him seize the world. ”

However, some scholars believe that the turtle is a separate species and call it the turtle. Therefore, these two cannot be determined, and the only ones that can be determined at present are these three in China. ”

"The female in Xiyuan Temple has lost her ability to reproduce, and the female in Changsha Zoo and the female in Suzhou Zoo are relatively young, but they are also 100 and 80 years old. ”

"Now the two turtles that are still fertile have been moved together and raised by the Suzhou Zoo, but whether it is natural breeding or artificial breeding, it is currently difficult, and there is no hope of success. ”

Director Meng said: "Every year, the female turtle lays about 100 eggs, but none of them survive. ”

Director Jiang said: "It is estimated that the problem lies with the male turtle. We found that it had severe scars on its dorsal armor and genitals. ”

"It was left over from a fight with another male competitor many years ago, which also left him with a lifelong disability that prevented him from inseminating his mate naturally," Meng said. ”