At least 441 new species of animals and plants have been discovered over the past four years in the immense, mysterious and unexplored rainforest of the Amazon. Discoveries made between 2010 and 2013 include a monkey that purrs like a cat and a vegetarian piranha that feeds solely on aquatic plants.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
At least 441 new species of animals and plants have been discovered over the past four years in the immense, mysterious and unexplored rainforest of the Amazon. Discoveries made between 2010 and 2013 include one monkey purring like a cat and a vegetarian piranha, which feeds only on aquatic plants.
Revealed to the world by a diverse number of scientists and listed for the first time by WWF, the new species add up to an astonishing number of 258 plants, 84 fish, 58 amphibians, 22 reptiles, 18 birds and 1 mammal. And without understanding the countless discoveries of insects and other invertebrates.
“The more scientists look, the more they find themselves - explains Damian Fleming, head of WWF-UK's Brazil and Amazonia program. "With an average of two new species identified every week for the past four years, it is clear that the extraordinary Amazonnia remains one of the most important centers of biodiversity in the world."
The recently discovered plants and animals do not have in common only that they have remained unknown to humans for so long. It is thought to be endemic species of small parts of the Amazon rainforest. That is, they are not found anywhere else in the world, making them even more vulnerable to the threat of deforestation that is currently destroying three rainforest football fields every minute across the Amazon.
“The richness of the Amazon forests continues to amaze the world. But these same habitats are also under increasing threat. The discovery of these new species reaffirms the importance of intensifying efforts in the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity, ”concludes Fleming.
Roberta Ragni
Foto Credit WWF UK
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