December 20, 2024, 9:54 PM
December 20, 2024, 9:54 PM
An amphibian mouse with webbed feet and a fish with a round head are among the 27 new species that experts discovered in Peru.
They were found on an expedition to Alto Mayo, which includes the Amazon rainforest, by scientists from the non-profit organization Conservation International and members of local indigenous groups.
Another 48 new species may have also been found, but more studies will be needed to determine this.
“Discovering so many new species of mammals and vertebrates is truly incredible, especially in a landscape with so much human influence,” said Trond Larsen, senior director at Conservation International.
He fish with head rounded is a new discovery for science, but the Awajún indigenous people who helped with the expedition already knew of its existence.
Scientists who study fish were especially surprised by its enlarged head, something they had never seen before.
They also identified a dwarf squirrel that It measures just 14cm, half the length of the average gray squirrel in the UK.
“It fits easily in the palm of your hand. It’s adorable and a beautiful brown color, and it’s very fast,” Larsen said.
“It jumps quickly and hides in the trees,” he added.
The experts discovered a new species of spiny mousenamed for the especially stiff protective hairs found in its fur that function similarly to a hedgehog’s spines.
They also found a new “amphibious mouse”which has partially webbed feet and eats aquatic insects.
It belongs to a group of semi-aquatic rodents considered among the rarest in the world, and the few species known to exist have only been sighted a handful of times by scientists.
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