24 New Species Found by Rapid Assessment Program

Article from: AdelaideNow
June 05, 2007 05:00pm
“SCIENTISTS say they have found two dozen new species in an expedition into a remote part of South America.

The Associated Press reported that an expedition by 13 scientists into the remote plateaus of eastern Suriname had turned up 24 new species, including a frog with fluorescent purple markings.

The expedition led by Conservation International discovered the species in 2005 in rainforests and swamps about 130 kilometers southeast of Paramaribo, the capital of the South American country bordering Brazil, Guyana and French Guiana.

Among the newly discovered species were the Atelopus frog, which has distinctive purple markings; six types of fish; 12 dung beetles, and one ant species… “

Above: Amazonian Snail-Eater Snake
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*Note: Aquarium enthusiasts will be interested in the discovery of several suckermouth catfish- at least 3 new species- one of which has a particularly large mouth, and another that is fond of RED algae… not to mention the appearance of the Armored catfish, which was believed to be extinct.

The original article (above) from AdelaideNow includes several pictures.
The Conservation International website has the full pdf file of the R.A.P. report.
The ABC News website has more pics- also high res.
Telegraph.co.uk has more pics- including some not on the previous sites.
Mongabay.com has a great article with more information.

New pig species found in Amazon

Arpita Mukherjee | Nov 7 2007

Marc van Roosmalen, a Dutch scientist claims to have found a new species of wild pig in the Amazon forest. Roosmalen has published his findings in the October 29 issue of the German journal Bonner Zoologische Beitrage. The pig is four feet long and weighs 90 pounds. The DNA analysis of the animal showed that the animal diverged from the most closely related species, Pecari tajacau or collared peccary about 1 million to 1.2 million years ago.

However, scientists say that more research is necessary to confirm that the species is new. Roosmalen is campaigning for conservation of wild life in the Amazon. He said that the new peccary, which he dubbed Pecari maximus, inhabits a logged frontier of the Amazon around Nova Aripuana where the number of sawmills has grown from two in 2002 to fourteen in the current year.

The wild pig species usually travels in small groups comprising of two adults and one or two off springs. While other species move in large herds, these pigs that travel in small groups are vulnerable to hunters.

Van Roosmalen�s success in discovering new species in the Amazon has earned him international acclaim.

Source:

http://www.greendiary.com/entry/new-pig-species-found-in-amazon/