{"id":39856,"date":"2024-12-25T19:20:49","date_gmt":"2024-12-26T00:20:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/scientists-discover-27-new-species-in-densely-populated-area-packed-with-mystery-animals\/25\/12\/2024\/"},"modified":"2024-12-25T19:20:49","modified_gmt":"2024-12-26T00:20:49","slug":"scientists-discover-27-new-species-in-densely-populated-area-packed-with-mystery-animals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/scientists-discover-27-new-species-in-densely-populated-area-packed-with-mystery-animals\/25\/12\/2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Scientists Discover 27 New Species in Densely Populated Area Packed with &#8216;Mystery&#8217; Animals"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<ul class=\"col-body mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\"><strong>An expedition with Conservation International&#8217;s Rapid Assessment Program\u00a0did a species survey of Peru&#8217;s Alto Mayo Landscape in 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\"><strong>The expedition recorded over 2,000 species during its 38-day survey <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\"><strong>Of the creatures recorded, 27 are species that are new to science<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">A scientific expedition focused on conserving the known animals of Peru&#8217;s\u00a0Alto Mayo Landscape discovered 27 new species needing protection.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">In 2024, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservation.org\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Conservation International&#8217;s Rapid Assessment Program<\/a> (RAP) launched a 38-day survey of the Alto Mayo Landscape \u2014 &#8220;a complex mosaic of ecosystems and communities, including Indigenous territories, towns, and cities&#8221; stretching from the Andes to the Amazon, according to the organization.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Trond Larsen, Ph.D, the expedition&#8217;s scientific lead, tells PEOPLE that the mission was &#8220;to assess and monitor biodiversity and ecosystem health&#8221; in this area.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Trond is a &#8220;conservation ecologist, but also an explorer and naturalist at heart.&#8221; He is also the senior director of biodiversity and ecosystem science at Conservation International and the lead of the organization&#8217;s Rapid Assessment Program.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/zoo-celebrates-releasing-thousands-of-giant-spiders-8739174\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Zoo Celebrates Releasing Thousands of 'Giant Spiders' that Grow to Be the Size of a Human Hand;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Zoo Celebrates Releasing Thousands of &#8216;Giant Spiders&#8217; that Grow to Be the Size of a Human Hand<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">&#8220;For more than a decade, Conservation International has worked with the Awaj\u00fan people and local communities in Alto Mayo to reduce deforestation by supporting sustainable livelihoods, such as selling medicinal teas and vanilla, and sustainable agriculture with cocoa and coffee beans,&#8221; Trond explains of the collaboration that led to his recent expedition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">&#8220;These efforts are now culminating in a vision for establishing a conservation corridor across the Alto Mayo landscape that connects the more degraded areas with existing protected areas,&#8221; he adds. &#8220;This will help to maintain Alto Mayo&#8217;s unique biodiversity while also ensuring people continue to receive the benefits from nature that they depend upon.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative col-body mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\">\n<p>Ronald Diaz<\/p>\n<p> A semi-aquatic mouse that is new to science found during a scientific expedition in the Alto Mayo Landscape<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Before constructing this corridor, Conservation International needs to know &#8220;where the most important species live, especially those that are new to science, rare, or threatened with extinction.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Trond&#8217;s expedition went to the Alto Mayo Landscape to fill these &#8220;knowledge gaps&#8221; so that the corridor can develop a land-use plan that supports biodiversity conservation, agricultural sustainability, and habitat connectivity across the broader region.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">During the expedition&#8217;s five-week survey, scientists recorded over 2,000 species, a &#8220;shocking&#8221; number for a &#8220;human-dominated&#8221; area of the Peruvian rainforest. Even more unexpected, out of the hundreds of species documented, 27 were new to science, including four new mammals, eight fish, three amphibians, and ten butterfly species. Additionally, &#8220;48 species are potentially new to science pending further research, and at least 49 species are threatened with extinction,&#8221; according to Trond.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative col-body mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Trond Larsen A new species of salamander found in Alto Mayo Landscape\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/oYU3asS8YPcyKF8oZYjvqA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MQ--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/6c67fcd661c6170d2835095d5dd95d67\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\">\n<p>Trond Larsen<\/p>\n<p> A new species of salamander found in Alto Mayo Landscape<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">&#8220;Our team was very surprised at the extraordinarily high levels of biodiversity we encountered, particularly the number of species that are new to science. While the discovery of new invertebrates, such as insects, is quite common, the discovery of so many vertebrate animals, including new mammals, amphibians, and fishes, was shocking,&#8221; the expedition lead shares.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">The conservation ecologist admits he has a favorite among the newly discovered species.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">&#8220;My personal favorite, and also the most unusual, is the blob-headed fish,&#8221; Trond says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">The creature is a type of armored catfish, set apart from other armored catfish by the &#8220;large, bulbous speckled &#8216;blob&#8217; extending from the end of its head.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/zoo-asks-for-help-identifying-mysterious-winged-horned-creature-8732400\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Zoo Asks for Help Identifying 'Mysterious Winged and Horned Creature' Spotted Near Park Habitat;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Zoo Asks for Help Identifying &#8216;Mysterious Winged and Horned Creature&#8217; Spotted Near Park Habitat<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Other new species to science found during the expedition include a new type of bat, amphibious mouse, climbing salamander, and squirrel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">&#8220;While this fish is familiar to the local Indigenous Awajun people, it is completely new to scientists, and the function of this bizarre blob-like structure remains a mystery,&#8221; Trond adds.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative col-body mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Ronald Diaz A new species of dwarf squirrel\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/yJvbTfBGnNGtdPaFkanerw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MQ--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/651c3c14fc818371a0821df6ac46c0dc\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\">\n<p>Ronald Diaz<\/p>\n<p> A new species of dwarf squirrel<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">&#8220;The scientific experts are continuing to study the newly discovered species in more detail, and eventually, each species will be formally &#8216;described&#8217; and named, with the details published in a scientific journal,&#8221; he says of what&#8217;s next for the new animals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Conservation International is working with the regional government and local communities to restore the areas of the Alto Mayo Landscape that are crucial to the animals recorded by the expedition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\"><strong>Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/people-news-daily-newsletter-sign-up-8692701\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:PEOPLE's free daily newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">PEOPLE&#8217;s free daily newsletter<\/a>\u00a0to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">According to Trond, the Alto Mayo Landscape is the most &#8220;highly populated and human-influenced&#8221; landscape in which RAP has worked.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">The &#8220;shocking and unexpected&#8221; discovery of so many new species and the overall &#8220;tremendous diversity&#8221; of the Alto Mayo Landscape shows RAP and Conservation International that populated areas &#8220;largely ignored&#8221; by scientists can still be teeming with natural life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Trond&#8217;s next RAP expedition will occur in northeastern Bolivia in the first half of 2025. To learn more about Conservation International and how the organization protects nature, visit<a href=\"http:\/\/www.conservation.org\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:\u00a0www.conservation.org;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">\u00a0www.conservation.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Read the original article on <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/scientist-discovers-27-new-species-peru-alto-mayo-landscape-8763717\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:People;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/scientists-discover-27-species-densely-230000362.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An expedition with Conservation International&rsquo;s Rapid Assessment Program&nbsp;did a species survey of Peru&rsquo;s Alto Mayo Landscape in 2024 The expedition recorded over<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/scientists-discover-27-new-species-in-densely-populated-area-packed-with-mystery-animals\/25\/12\/2024\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39858,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39856"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39856\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39858"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}