Wednesday 25 January 2012

more new species discovered


Suriname team find 46 new species in tropical forests
By Victoria Gill Science reporter, BBC Nature
An expedition to a tiny South American country has revealed more than 40 species that scientists believe to be new to science. The expedition to the pristine tropical forests of Suriname was led by the charity Conservation International. The collaboration between scientists, indigenous people and students recorded 1,300 species in total. The team is now working to confirm which of these weird and wonderful creatures are newly discovered species. Among those they believe to be new to science are the "cowboy frog", an amphibian with white fringes along its legs, and a spur-like structure on its "heel". Another colourful addition to the scientific record is  a cricket, or katydid, that has been named the "crayola katydid" because of its bright colouration. One of the new finds - an armoured catfish that has bony plates covered with spines all over its body to defend itself from the giant piranhas the inhabit the same waters - was almost eaten by one of the expedition guides.
Read rest see pics here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/16698776

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