Newly Discovered: Previously Unknown Animal Species (Not Alleged Cryptids Or Species Believed Extinct)

[ramonmercado]

Half-Animal, Half-Plant Microbe Found

Half-Animal, Half-Plant Microbe Found

The microbe is originally green and is made up of algae. When it divides into two cells, one takes over the algae from its parent and remains green and the other turns colorless
Tsukuba, Japan (UPI) Oct 17, 2005
Japanese scientists have found a mysterious marine microbe, half of which cells eat algae like animals while the rest perform photosynthesis like plants.
Professor Isao Inoue, a member of the University of Tsukuba research team, told the Mainichi Daily News he believes the microbe demonstrates part of the process of single-cell marine microbes evolving into plants.

The research team discovered the single-cell microbe, a kind of flagellate, on a beach in Wakayama Prefecture, and called it "hatena" or "mystery."

The microbe is originally green and is made up of algae. When it divides into two cells, one takes over the algae from its parent and remains green and the other turns colorless, Mainichi reported.

The animal-type colorless cell develops an organ like a mouth and uses it to eat algae, while the plant-type green one uses algae it has in its body to perform photosynthesis and produce energy, according to the team.

The researchers believe that as the marine microbes evolve into plants, only the chloroplasts in algae they had taken in their cells developed, while the other organs degenerated.

http://www.terradaily.com/news/life-05zzzzzzu.html

 

[Mighty_Emperor]

27 new species found in California caves

By JULIANA BARBASSA

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 Posted at 7:38 PM EST

Associated Press

Sequoia National Park, Calif. — Twenty-seven previously unknown species of spiders, centipedes, scorpion-like creatures and other animals have been discovered in the dark, damp caves beneath two national parks in the Sierra Nevada, biologists say.

“Not only are these animals new to science, but they're adapted to very specific environments — some of them, to a single room in one cave,” said Joel Despain, a cave specialist who helped explore 30 of the 238 known caves in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

The discoveries included a relative of the pill bug so translucent that its internal organs are visible, particularly its long, bright yellow liver. There was also a daddy long legs with jaws bigger than its body, and a tiny fluorescent orange spider.

“Many people will be looking at these trying to find where they fit in the tree of life,” said Darrell Ubick, a cave biologist with the San Francisco-based California Academy of Sciences.

While it is extremely rare to find new mammal or bird species on the surface, caves still hold an abundance of secrets. Like the deep sea, they are often difficult to reach and seldom explored.

Discovering so many species was thrilling, said Jean Krejca, a consulting biologist with Austin, Texas-based Zara Environmental who helped lead the three-year exploration.

“You get the feeling you're Lewis and Clark, charting undiscovered territory,” she said. “Caves are one of the last frontiers.”

Park officials plan to adopt measures to protect the caves, Mr. Despain said. Most of them are not accessible to the public, and can be visited only by researchers or experienced explorers with permits.

The species have yet to be named, described scientifically and placed in the continuum of known living organisms.

“We don't know how long they live, what kind of habitat they prefer, how many offspring they have, or how sensitive they are to human disturbance,” Dr. Krejca said. “There's still so much to learn.”

Source

 

[ramonmercado]

Miniature Asian fish sets a whale of a record

Miniature Asian fish sets a whale of a record



Scientists from Europe and Singapore say they have discovered the world's tiniest fish -- a species that lives in peat wetlands in Southeast Asia and, when fully grown, is the size of a large mosquito.

The record-busting newcomer to the biodiversity book, Paedocypris progenetica, is a distant cousin of the carp, say the discoverers, who publish their findings on Wednesday in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, a British journal.

Skinny and transparent, the elusive fish lives in highly acid peat swamps on the Indonesian island of Sumatra and in the Malaysian part of Borneo that are threatened by forestry and agriculture.



These so-called "blackwater" swamps are a unique landscape of flooded trees growing in water-logged, soft peaty soil that is often several meters (10 feet) thick.

The water is stained reddish-black, like very dark tea, appearing black at the surface. It is extraordinarily acidic, having a pH3 value of only three, the same as a sour apple.

The scientists needed a special stereoscopic microscope to accurately measure the fish.

The smallest adult specimen they netted was a mature Paedocypris progenetica female, found in Sumatra, that came to just 7.9mm (0.31 of an inch) from nose to tail, making it not only the world's smallest fish but the smallest vertebrate too.

She nudged out the previous record holder, a marine fish of the Western Pacific called the dwarf goby (Trimmatom nanus), which comes in at 8mm (0.32 of an inch) at sexual maturity.

The team also found a related Paedocypris species, P. micromegethes, in Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo.

At 8.8mm (0.35 of an inch), P. micromegethes is the second smallest freshwater vertebrate ever found.

The fish was discovered by Maurice Kottelat and Tan Heok Hui, who are researchers at the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research at the National University of Singapore.

They were assisted by Ralf Britz of Britain's National Museum of Natural History and Kai-Erik Witte at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Tuebingen, Germany.

Kottelat said P. progenetica has "a very rudimentary skull" which leaves the brain exposed.

Evolutionary pressures have caused the fish to develop highly modified fins to survive in its special environment. Males also have a tough pad on the front of the pelvic girdle that may be used to help them clutch onto females during mating.

"The discovery of such a tiny and bizarre fish highlights how little we know about the diversity of Southeast Asia," said Kottelat.

"This is all the more serious because the habitat of this fish is disappearing very fast, and the fate of the species is now in doubt."

http://www.physorg.com/printnews.php?newsid=10207

 

[KeyserXSoze]

Source

New species found in Papua 'Eden'
A team of international scientists say they have found a "lost world" in an Indonesian jungle, home to dozens of new species of animals and plants.
"It's as close to the Garden of Eden as you're going to find on Earth," said Bruce Beehler, co-leader of the team.

The scientists claim to have discovered 20 frog species, four butterfly species and at least five new types of palms.

But their discoveries will have to be reviewed by peers before being officially classified as new species.

The team - from the US, Indonesia and Australia - surveyed a region near the Foja Mountains in Papua province in eastern Indonesia, which covers an area of more than a million hectares (two million acres) of forest.

"There was not a single trail, no sign of civilisation, no sign of even local communities ever having been there," Mr Beehler told the Associated Press.

He said that even two local tribesmen, who accompanied the scientists, were astonished at the area's isolation.

"As far as they knew, neither of their clans had ever been to the area," Mr Beehler said.

Unafraid of humans

One of the team's most remarkable discoveries was a honey-eater bird with a bright orange patch on its face - the first new bird species to be sighted in the area for more than 60 years.


They also found a Golden-Mantled Tree Kangaroo, which was previously thought to have been hunted to near-extinction, and took the first known photographs of the Berlepsch's Six-Wired Bird of Paradise, first described by hunters in the 19th Century.
Mr Beehler said some of the creatures the team came into contact with were remarkably unafraid of humans.

Two Long-Beaked Echidnas, primitive egg-laying mammals, even allowed scientists to pick them up and bring them back to their camp to be studied, he added.

The December 2005 expedition was organised by the US-based organisation Conservation International, together with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences.

The team admit that in their month-long trip, they did not have enough time to survey the area completely.

"We just scratched the surface," Mr Beehler told reporters. "Anyone who goes there will come back with a mystery."

Mr Beehler himself hopes to return later this year.

More here

Scientists find Lost World in remote jungle
By Jenny Booth and AP News

Scientists today claimed to have discovered a lost world in an isolated Indonesian jungle, identifying dozens of new species of frogs, butterflies and plants, as well as a bird of paradise thought to have been extinct for more than 100 years.

The expedition also found large mammals hunted to near extinction elsewhere during its rapid survey of the Foja Mountains, in Papua New Guinea. They said that the wildlife was remarkably unafraid of humans.

Two Long-Beaked Echidnas, a primitive egg-laying mammal, simply allowed scientists to pick them up and bring them back to their camp to be studied, said Bruce Beehler, a co-leader of the month-long trip.

The December 2005 expedition to Papua province on the western side of New Guinea island was organized by Conservation International, a US-based environmental group, and by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences. The area they visited was covered by more than a million hectares (two million acres) of old growth tropical forest, said Mr Beehler.

"There was not a single trail, no sign of civilization, no sign of even local communities ever having been there," he said, adding that two headmen from the Kwerba and Papasena tribes, the customary landowners of the Foja Mountains, accompanied the expedition.

"They were as astounded as we were at how isolated it was," he told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Washington DC. "As far as they knew, neither of their clans had ever been to the area."

Papua, the scene of a decades-long separatist rebellion that has left an estimated 100,000 people dead, is one of Indonesia’s most remote provinces, geographically and politically, and access by foreigners is tightly restricted.

The 11-member team of US, Indonesian and Australian scientists needed six permits before they could legally fly by helicopter to an open, boggy lakebed surrounded by forests near the range’s western summit.

The scientists said they discovered 20 frog species, including a tiny microhylid frog less than 14mm (half an inch) long, four new butterfly species, and at least five new types of palms.

Their findings, however, will have to be published and then reviewed by peers before being officially classified as new species, a process that could take six months to several years.

Because of the rich diversity in the forest, the group rarely had to stray more than a few kilometres (miles) from their base camp.

"We’ve only scratched the surface," said Mr Beehler, vice president of Conservation International’s Melanesia Center for Biodiversity Conservation, who hopes to return later this year with other scientists.

One of the most remarkable discoveries was the Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo, an arboreal jungle-dweller new for Indonesia and previously thought to have been hunted to near extinction, and a new honeyeater bird, which has a bright orange face-patch with a pendant wattle under each eye, Beehler said.

The scientists also took the first known photographs of Berlepsch’s Six-Wired Bird of Paradise, described by hunters in New Guinea in the 19th century. The scientists said they watched in amazement as, just one day after arriving, a male bird performed a courtship dance for an attending female in their camp, shaking the long feathers on its head.

One of the reasons for the rain forest’s isolation, Beehler said, was that only a few hundred people live in the region, and game in the mountain’s foothills is so abundant that they had no reason to venture into the jungle’s interior.

There did not appear to be any immediate conservation threat to the area, which has the status of a wildlife sanctuary, he said.

"No logging permits are given to this area, there is no transport system, not a single road," Beehler said. "But clearly with time everything is a threat. In the next few decades there will be strong demands, especially if you think of the timber needs of nearby countries like China and Japan. They will be very hungry for logs."

More

INDONESIA'S 'LOST WORLD'

Exotic new species of birds, butterflies, frogs and plants, as well as mammals nearly hunted to extinction elsewhere, have been discovered, by scientists, in a remote Indonesian mountain jungle.

"It's as close to the Garden of Eden as you're going to find on Earth," said Bruce Beehler, co-leader of the US, Indonesian and
Australian expedition to part of the cloud-shrouded Foja mountains in the province of Papua that covers the western half of New Guinea.

"We just scratched the surface," Mr Beehler said.

"Anyone who goes there will come back with a mystery."

Indigenous peoples living near the Foja range, which rises to 2,200 metres, said they have never ventured into the trackless area of 3,000 sq km.

The team of 25 scientists took helicopters to boggy clearings in the pristine zone.

Discoveries

The expedition found a new type of honeyeater bird with a bright orange patch on its face (pictured), known only to local people.

It’s the first new bird species documented on the island in over 60 years.

They also found more than 20 new species of frog, four new species of butterfly and plants including five new palms.

Two long-beaked echidnas, the egg-laying species similar to those found in Australia, simply allowed scientists to pick them up and bring them back to their camp to be studied, Mr Beehler said.

The enigmatic animals were probably so unwary because they never had seen people before.

And the scientists took the first photographs of Berlepsch's six-wired bird of paradise, which appears in 19th century collections but whose home had previously been unknown.

The bird is named after six fine feathers about 10cm long on the head of the male which can be raised and shaken in courtship displays.

The expedition also took the first photographs of a golden-fronted bowerbird in front of a bower made of sticks, while he was hanging up blue forest berries to attract females.

It found a rare tree kangaroo, previously unsighted in Indonesia.

Mr Beehler said the naturalists reckoned that there was likely to be a new species of kangaroo living in higher altitudes.

Access restricted

Papua, the scene of a decades-long separatist rebellion that has killed approximately 100,000 people, is one of Indonesia's most remote provinces, geographically and politically, and access by foreigners is tightly restricted.

The scientists needed six permits before they could legally fly by helicopter to an open, boggy lakebed surrounded by forests near the range's western summit, where they set up camp at an altitude of 1,500 metres.

"There was not a single trail, no sign of civilisation, no sign of even local communities ever having been there," Mr Beehler said.

More discoveries expected

The scientists visited in the wet season, which limited the numbers of flying insects.

"Any expedition visiting in the dry season would probably discover many more butterflies," Mr Beehler said.

Mr Beehler, who works at Conservation International in Washington, said the area was probably the largest pristine tropical forest in Asia.

"I suspect there are some areas like this in Africa, and am sure that there are similar places in South America," he said.

Mr Beehler said the Indonesian government was doing the right thing by keeping the area off limits to most visitors — including loggers and mineral prospectors.

The scientists cut two trails about 4km long, leaving vast tracts still to be explored.

More

Isolated Asian jungle yields bonanza of exotic new species
By ROBERT LEE HOTZ Los Angeles Times
In one of Asia's most isolated jungles — the Foja Mountains of western New Guinea — naturalists have discovered a vast unexplored preserve of exotic species new to science.

During a 15-day expedition in December, researchers found hundreds of rare birds, more than 20 new species of frogs, five kinds of previously unknown palms, four new breeds of butterfly, and giant rhododendrons with white blossoms the size of plates — believed to be the largest on record.

The 3,700 square miles of mist-shrouded tropical forest may be the most pristine natural area in Asia and the Pacific, Conservation International announced in Indonesia today.

"It is as close to the Garden of Eden as you're going to find on Earth," said expedition chief scientist Bruce Beehler.

Under the forest's lush canopy, animals hunted to extinction elsewhere were so plentiful and unused to human contact that they approached the naturalists unafraid, allowing themselves to be handled easily.

The field team spotted 40 rare species of animals, including six kinds of kangaroo. They also encountered a bizarre spined, egg-laying, hedgehog-like mammal called the long-beaked echidna, so docile scientists picked up two and carried them back to camp for study.

It was a journey that had taken a decade of planning.

"The politics and the environmental constraints of western New Guinea are changing all the time," Beehler said. "It is difficult to get permits. By some miracle, everything came together."

The custodians of the forest, a national wildlife sanctuary, are the local Kwerba and Papasena tribes.

8) :shock: 8)

 

[DougalLongfoot]

I'm sorry in whose world did an Echidna need such a detailed description:

They also encountered a bizarre spined, egg-laying, hedgehog-like mammal called the long-beaked echidna

Or is it just because I'm Australian?

 

[ouijaouija555]

I think this story is amazing, the idea that there are still places to be explored warms the cockles of my heart.

 

[JamesWhitehead]

Mine too. I'm off to Indonesia. Do they have Paxo there or should I pack some? :splat:

 

[amester]

Were there also gigantic apes and brontosauruses? :lol:

 

[Anome]

Just saw this on telly. New species of echidna? "Extinct" tree kangaroos and birds of paradise? A new species of honeyeater? That's just the headline stuff.

Seems to be some confusion in the stories above about which side of the border it's in. Papua and New Guinea are on the East side of the island, while the province of Irian Jaya (in Indonesia) or West Papua (in PNG) are on the West, and are part of Indonesia. Still not sure which side the "Eden" is on.

 

[Human_84]

I saw a TV program on nat'l geographic 2 years back where a bunch of white guys took cameras to Papua New Gunea and the tribespeople there had never seen white people before, only heard about it.

They didnt seem to care too much about hi tech stuff. It scared alot of them. That was one of the most interesting shows i've ever seen.

 

[Anome]

Done some checking, and it seems that Irian Jaya was renamed Papua by the Indonesian Government back in 2002.

Now that's confusing. Apparently it is usually referred to as West Papua or Indonesian Papua by people wishing to avoid confusion with the South Eastern corner of PNG - formerly the Australian Territory of Papua.

This, and the usual low standards of news organisations, is causing some confusion as to exactly where this is supposed to be. Although I think Loren Coleman is getting a bit nit-picky about it. (And the article on his site is full of typos.)

 

[rynner2]

Lost World (part two) found in the Caribbean
By Charles Clover
(Filed: 14/02/2006)

A treasure trove of undiscovered marine life has been found on an underwater mountain top in the Caribbean.

Scientists found an average of a new species a day on a 14-day dive on the little-studied Saba Bank Atoll, a submerged volcano which is the world's third largest coral atoll.


The Saba Bank Atoll rises from the abyssal depths to just 25ft below the surface

The expedition, which was plagued by high winds and strong currents, found 200 species of fish where only 50 were recorded before, among them two new and undiscovered species of goby.

The expedition, mounted by scientists from Conservation International, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Netherlands Antilles government, found vast beds of seaweed, which included a dozen new species.


The area of the coral reef at the top of the sea mount, 150 miles south-east of Puerto Rico in the Dutch Windward islands, extends to 90 square miles. The sea mount rises from the abyssal depths to just 25ft below the surface.

Michael Smith, the director of Conservation International's Caribbean Biodiversity Initiative, said the atoll was one of the least explored parts of the Caribbean - despite it being in an important shipping lane and where supertankers frequently anchored on their way to an oil terminal on St Eustatius Island nearby.

The discovery of the marine riches on Saba Bank Atoll is the second big find in two months for the American-based charity, which was also partly responsible for the expedition that last week announced it had found a "lost world" with unknown species of birds and plants in the west of New Guinea.


The atoll has revealed 200 fish species, including gobies [top two] and anglerfish
"We have been looking for the kinds of places that seem to have fallen through the cracks and not been studied very well," said Mr Smith.

The scientists said the fragile ecosystems of Saba Bank became damaged by anchors and chains of ships that avoid anchoring fees in the territorial waters of St Eustatius. The large ships also endangered local fishermen of Saba in their small boats, forcing them away from traditional lobster and reef fish grounds and causing the loss of fish pots that become so-called "ghost traps", which harmed fish stocks.

Mr Smith said the unprecedented richness of marine life and vulnerable status of the atoll's coral beds made Saba Bank a prime candidate for protection as a particularly sensitive sea area under the International Maritime Organisation's rules. This could help to protect it from pollution and damage.

Leroy Peterson, a Saba fisherman, said the expedition was crucial in protecting Saba Bank's unique marine life. "There should be 'no-anchor' zones. For things to survive there must be stricter controls," he said.

The atoll is within the 200-mile limit of Saba, whose citizens claim descent from pirates, speak English as their main language and are Dutch citizens.

Next month, the Netherlands navy will launch a six-week survey of Saba Bank by the Snellius, a 265ft research vessel capable of conducting comprehensive bottom coverage using sonar and other technology.

Information from the diving expedition and hydrographical survey would help to prepare the campaign to get Saba Bank designated as a protected area, said Mr Smith.

Telegraph

 

[ramonmercado]

Tanzanian monkey goes up a notch
By Rebecca Morelle
BBC News science reporter



The Kipunji was first thought a new species
See the monkey
Scientists have described a new genus of monkey - the first for 83 years.
The Rungwecebus kipunji sports a distinctive Mohawk stripe of hair, and is found in Tanzania, Africa.

The monkey, first described from photographs last year, was originally thought to be a new species but tests reveal it is even more special.

The international team, writing in the journal Science Express, warns that the animal is already under threat from logging and hunting.

The monkey is found in two high-altitude remote locations in Tanzania: the Rungwe-Livingstone forest in the Southern Highlands and the Ndundulu Forest in the Udzungwa Mountains.

Known locally as Kipunji, it stands at about 90cm (3ft) tall, is grey-brown in colour with off-white fur on its stomach and on the tip of its long curly tail, and has a crest of long hair on the top of its head. Adults have a distinctive call, described as a "honk-bark".


Better tests

When scientists spotted the animals in 2005, they originally placed them in the Lophocebus genus, commonly known as managabeys, but they were only able to study them from photographs.

However, the discovery of a dead Kipunji in a farmer's trap meant more extensive genetic and morphological tests could take place.


CLASSIFYING MONKEYS
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genus: Rungwecebus
Species: R. kipunji

Tim Davenport, lead author of the paper, who is from the Wildlife Conservation Society and is based in Tanzania, said: "We first came across the monkey a couple of years ago - the realisation that it was a new species was really exciting.
"Since then we knew it would only be a matter of time before we got hold of a dead animal - because they are hunted - and once we had and we started looking at it more closely, we realised it was a new genus. That was just incredible - it is something that really doesn't happen that often."

Bill Stanley, an author on the paper, and mammal collections manager at the Field Museum, Chicago, US, said hearing the news that the monkey belonged to a new genus "sent shivers down my spine".

"Simply put, the genetics said that it was closely related to baboons, but the skull wasn't anything like a baboon. The conclusions we drew from the genetic and morphological data meant that it had to be named as a new genus."

An enigmatic monkey

Mr Stanley said one of the reasons why the monkey had until recently remained a mystery to science was because of its reclusive nature.

"They live in trees for the most part, they rarely come to the ground - and when they are in the trees they remain relatively hidden. This coupled with the fact that the places where the Kipunji are known are infrequently visited by outsiders is what probably led to them being unknown for so long."


But although the enigmatic Kipunji has just been described, it is already under threat, say the authors.
"At the moment we are doing a census, but the Kipunji will almost certainly number less than 1,000 in total," Tim Davenport told the BBC News website.

"There is a very small population in Ndundulu, but that is only two or three groups. In Mount Rungwe, where there are more, the forest is heavily disturbed. It is logged and it isn't managed. That couples with the fact that the monkey is hunted - they raid crops - and people set traps to protect their crops."

Bill Stanley agreed: "The bottom line is that they are living in a small area of forest that is increasing being utilised for human needs, and the ramifications of that human utilisation could have a serious effect on the remaining population."

The new genus is now being considered for the IUCN Red List of endangered species.

Evolutionary steps

Jonathan Kingdon, a biological anthropologist from Oxford University, commented: "The geneticists have shown that the closest relative of this rather slender, mainly tree-dwelling monkey is the hefty, mainly ground-dwelling baboon. Indeed of all the primates known it is the baboon's closest relative.

"The evolution of this unique monkey from a baboon and not a finely tuned lineage that was already 'monkey' offers us a unique opportunity to understand the evolution of monkeys in Africa.


"And the most likely reason for baboon and not monkey ancestry is that the Southern Highlands were separated from the great primate communities of central Africa by Lakes Tanganyika and Rukwa."
But Professor Colin Groves, a biological anthropologist from Australian National University, Canberra, was more cautious about the research.

"I'm not certain if this is a new genus. I'm unsure of the molecular analysis - when I look at the phylogenetic tree (a diagram of the evolutionary relationships of a group of organisms) there are aspects of it that are quite different to those that other people have generated. I would like to see them explore their DNA tree much much more."


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/s ... 759535.stm

Published: 2006/05/11 18:18:59 GMT

© BBC MMVI

 

[ted_bloody_maul]

Ancient cave gives up new species of critter

A CAVE, SEALED for millions of years was found to discover a bunch of hitherto unseen species of creepy-crawly, after scientists let the sun shine in.
The cave, near the Israeli town of Ramle, may have been sealed up to five million years ago. Eyes became redundant for the critters scuttling about the darkness of the 2.5km subterranean playground.

"Eight species of animals were found in the cave, all of them unknown to science," said Dr. Hanan Dimantman, a biologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. None of the species has eyes that work.

The new critters include white crustaceans that look like shrimps and invertebrates that resemble scorpions. The scientists are yet to find a live example of the scorpion-like thingys.

The cave has remained sealed under a layer of chalk from the days when its vicinity in Israel lay beneath the Mediterranean Sea.

Such is the age of the cave that although the strange species it contains are all brand new to science they are ancient creatures adapted to a pre-historic eco-system.

The scientists expect to find more new species as they explore the cave system. The cave is "unique in the world," said Professor Amos Frumkin of the Hebrew University Department of Geography.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=32101

 

[Yithian]

Blind Scorpions & White Shrimp

Unknown creatures found in cave

Eight previously unknown invertebrate creatures have been discovered in an underwater cave in central Israel.

The largest is a white shrimp-like crustacean. Another resembles a species of scorpion and is blind.

The cave was uncovered during drilling at a quarry close to Tel Aviv.

Scientists say it is a unique ecosystem that has been sealed off from the world for five million years and could contain other ancient lifeforms.

"The uniqueness is of the environmental conditions and of the palaeohistory," said Dr Hanan Dimantman, a biologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

"The result of this is that the ecosystem is unique. We are sure that the eight species that were found are only the beginning of the story of this ecosystem."

Ancient ecosystem

The cave is connected to a lake and a network of passageways that extend for more than a mile (1.6km) some 400ft (120m) underground.

It is thought to date back millions of years to a time when the area was part of the Mediterranean Sea.

Scientists believe the ecosystem has been isolated since then, creating a unique environment in which new species have evolved.

Two of the crustaceans are adapted to seawater and two others live in fresh or brackish water, suggesting they may be descended from ancient sea creatures.

They have lost their eyes over the course of evolution in the gloom of the cave.

All of the species were found alive, except for one species of blind scorpion, but scientists are confident that a complete set of living specimens will be found.

Samples have been sent to experts in Europe and Israel to be named and classified.

Paul Pearce-Kelly, senior curator of invertebrates at London Zoo, said the organisms would give clues to how life can evolve in the absence of sunlight.

"They can give a very good insight into how robust life, and the evolutionary process driving it, can be," he said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5036618.stm

Follow the link for a (Surprisingly interesting) video which does a good 2minute synopsis.

 

[Rrose_Selavy]

Typical.

You wait ages for a previously unknown invertrebrate then eight come along at once..........



-

 

[WhistlingJack]

New shark discovered in US waters

A new type of hammerhead shark has been discovered in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, marine scientists say.

The shark resembles a common species called the scalloped hammerhead but has not yet been classified or named.

US researchers say the animal appears to be rare, breeding only in waters off the South Carolina coast.

They believe the shark is at risk of extinction and conservation efforts are needed to protect females when they are raising their pups.

The shark was discovered by a biology professor at the University of South Carolina.

Dr Joe Quattro became curious about a common coastal shark called the scalloped hammerhead shark while studying coastal fish.

Genetic studies revealed that there was a second "cryptic" species - that is, "genetically distinct" from the scalloped hammerhead.

The shark appears to breed only in waters off South Carolina, although adults swim into waters off Florida and North Carolina.

"If South Carolina's waters are the primary nursery grounds for the cryptic species and females gather here to reproduce, these areas should be conservation priorities," said Dr Quattro.

"Management plans are needed to ensure that these sharks are not adversely impacted so that we can learn more."

Scientists plan to tag the shark so they can understand more about its range.

Ali Hood, director of conservation at the Shark Trust in the UK, said with only 454 recorded species of shark in the wild, it was exciting to discover another one.

"It shows how small areas of coastline are significant to certain species and it is so important to consider shark conservation on an area by area basis," she said.

Story from BBC NEWS:

Published: 2006/06/10 12:28:46 GMT

© BBC MMVI

 

[WhistlingJack]

New mountain species discovered

A new species of insect has been discovered among more than 1,000 rare creatures catalogued for a survey of the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland.

The results of the study are included in a book launched by Scottish Natural Heritage on Monday.

The tiny black Christii fly measures just 2mm long and lives under the bark of dead aspen trees.

Another 20 plants, invertebrates and fungi species found were also new to Britain and some were new to science.

The book, The Nature of the Cairngorms, also includes 223 species mainly found in the area and some 1,150 species for which the mountains are nationally important.

Professor Des Thompson, SNH uplands adviser and a contributor to the book, said: "Nowhere else in Britain, and some would argue in Europe, will you find so much diversity of wildlife in such a confined area.

"The book highlights the particular importance of the Cairngorms' woodland habitats, and the area's less well-known species, such as its insects, fungi and lichens."

The book, being launched in the Cairngorms National Park, contains research carried out over the past 20 years and has contributions from 35 authors.

The mountains' more iconic species include the capercaillie, ptarmigan, freshwater pearl mussel, pine marten and red squirrel.

SNH said the incredible diversity was partly a result of the ancient Caledonian forest, which provides a refuge for many species not found elsewhere.

The richest concentrations were in the woodland areas, particularly the Strathspey forests of Abernethy, Rothiemurchus and Craigellachie to Coylumbridge, as well as parts of Deeside.

It is hoped the book will encourage more research in other important wildlife areas in Europe.

The Christii fly (Ectaetia christii) was discovered under the bark of a fallen aspen tree near Grantown in 1997 by Graham Rotheray of the National Museum of Scotland and Dave Horsfield of SNH.

Mr Rotheray said: "This is a superb example of a boreal species which has laid undiscovered in Scotland for thousands of years.

"We have since found it again two or three times in the Cairngorms and it has recently been discovered in Norway.

"It is a specialist species which adapted and probably came north with the retreat of the ice."

SNH said conserving and enhancing the national park's biodiversity and landscapes was a key priority in developing the National Park Plan for the Cairngorms, which is out for consultation at the moment.

Story from BBC NEWS:

Published: 2006/06/12 05:53:19 GMT

© BBC MMVI

 

[ProfessorF]

Not so much discovered as created, but still:

Two species become one in the lab

Two butterfly species have been bred in the lab to make a third distinct species, the journal Nature reports.

In a species, individuals need to be capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring.

The study demonstrates that two animal species can evolve to form one, instead of the more common scenario where one species diverges to form two.

The process has been likened to building a new bike from a pair of second-hand ones.

The Heliconius heurippa butterfly appears to be the product of a process called hybrid speciation.

Most species are thought to form when groups of organisms gradually diverge from one another over successive generations.

But these distinctive red and yellow butterflies seem to be the product of two existing varieties.

Genetic mismatch

Hybrid speciation is thought to be rare or absent in animals where, it has been argued, hybrid offspring would be less likely to survive and breed than the parent species.

This is because genes from different species are sometimes "incompatible".

A well known example is the mule - a sterile hybrid between the donkey and the horse. It is useful for carrying heavy loads but is a reproductive dead-end.

A team of researchers from Panama, Colombia and the UK managed to recreate Heliconius heurippa in the laboratory by crossing two other species of butterfly; Heliconius cydno and Heliconius melpomene.

"The fact we've recreated this species in the lab provides a pretty convincing route by which the natural species came about," co-author Chris Jiggins, of the University of Edinburgh, told BBC News.

Jesus Mavarez, another author from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, explained: "We found that a wing pattern almost identical to that of the hybrid can be obtained in months - just three generations of lab crosses between H. cydno and H. melpomene.

Wing patterns

"Moreover, natural hybrids from San Cristobal, Venezuela, show wing patterns very similar to H. heurippa, further supporting the idea of a hybrid origin for this species."

In addition, there is growing circumstantial evidence for hybrid speciation in Ragoletis fruit flies, swordtail fish and African cichlid fish.

Some also suspect the American red fox could be the product of hybridisation between coyotes and wolves.

Colour patterns on the wings of the butterflies may be crucial in forming new species, because they serve as mating cues. These butterflies are extremely choosey about finding mates with their own, species-specific wing pattern.

The wing patterns of H. heurippa individuals make them undesirable as mates for members of their parent species, but attractive to each other - reinforcing patterns of mating that lead to a new species.

These species-specific patterns are also crucial in deterring predators. The butterflies produce toxins when eaten and predators learn to recognise and avoid a specific wing pattern.

This is so finely tuned that butterflies with even slight deviations in colour pattern suffer from higher predation.

source

 

[nataraja]

Some also suspect the American red fox could be the product of hybridisation between coyotes and wolves.

I think they mean red wolf, not red fox. But cool piece of news, anyway... it's been suggested, IIRC, that humans could actually be the product of hybrid speciation between two different lineages of hominids...

 

[WhistlingJack]

Run For Your Lives! Chameleon Snakes!!

Snake displays changing colours

A snake with the ability to change its colour has been found in the rainforested heart of Borneo.

Researchers from Germany and the US discovered the water snake's chameleon-like behaviour by accident when they put it into a dark bucket.

The environmental group WWF, which supports conservation work in Borneo, says wildlife in the region is threatened by deforestation.

It believes the newly described snake may exist only in one river basin.

Found in the Kapuas river in the Betung Kerihun National Park in Kalimantan (the Indonesian portion of Borneo), it belongs to the Enhydris genus of rear-fanged water snakes and has been named E. gyii .

It is about 50cm (18 inches) long, and venomous.

The new species was described by Mark Auliya from the Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig in Bonn, and John Murphy and Harold Voris from the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

It was Dr Auliya, a consultant for WWF, who discovered serendipitously its colour-changing capacity.

"I put the reddish-brown snake in a dark bucket," he said. "When I retrieved it a few minutes later, it was almost entirely white."

The reasons why it has evolved this attribute are unclear. The chameleon, possibly the animal kingdom's most famous colour-changer, is believed to alter its hue depending on mood and temperature.

In the last 10 years, more than 350 new animal and plant species have been discovered on Borneo.

"The discovery of the 'chameleon' snake exposes one of nature's best kept secrets deep in the heart of Borneo," said Stuart Chapman, WWF's international coordinator for the island.

The environmental group warns that the home of the new snake is threatened, as Borneo's forest cover has declined from 75% in the mid-1980s to about 50% today.

Story from BBC NEWS:

Published: 2006/06/26 23:42:08 GMT

© BBC MMVI

 

[CygnusRex]

HOT OFF THE PRESSES!! 52 New Species Found off Indonesia (Sharks!)
By Alister Doyle, Environment Correspondent

OSLO (Reuters) - Scientists said on Monday they found two types of shark, exotic “flasher” fish and corals among 52 new species in seas off Indonesia, confirming the western Pacific as the richest marine habitat on earth.

They urged more protection for seas around the Bird’s Head peninsula at the western end of New Guinea island from threats including mining and dynamite fishing that can smash coral reefs.

“We feel very confident that this is the epicenter of marine biodiversity” in the world, said Mark Erdmann, a U.S. scientist at Conservation International who led two surveys this year.

The scientists found 24 new species of fish, including two types of epaulette shark, slim and spotty growing up to about 1.2 meters (4 ft) long. Among other finds were 20 new species of coral and eight previously unknown types of shrimp.

“It’s especially stunning to find sharks — these are higher level creatures, not bacteria or worms,” Erdmann told Reuters. The sharks get their name from markings on their sides like epaulettes — decorations on the shoulders of military uniforms.

The researchers also found new species of “flasher” wrasse fish. The males, which keep harems of several females, suddenly “flash” bright yellowsblues, pinks or other colors on their bodies, apparently as part of a sex

Source

 

[ramonmercado]

New Bird Discovered On Unexplored Colombian Mountain

Web address: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 072224.htm

Source: Conservation International
Date: October 9, 2006

New Bird Discovered On Unexplored Colombian Mountain

A new bird to science was recently discovered on an unexplored mountain range in northern Colombia by a team supported by the BP Conservation Programme. It was named "Yariguies Brush-Finch," with the scientific name Atlapetes latinuchus yariguierum.


A new bird to science was recently discovered on an unexplored mountain range in northern Columbia by a team supported by the BP Conservation Programme. It was named "Yariguies Brush-Finch," with the scientific name Atlapetes latinuchus yariguierum. (Image courtesy of Conservation International) Ads by Google Advertise on this site

The new brush-finch was described by an Anglo-Colombian team of biologists including Thomas Donegan (Fundación ProAves) and Blanca Huertas (Natural History Museum and University College London), following their leadership of the first biological exploration of the Yariguíes mountains. The description was published in the June issue of the scientific journal Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club (Vol. 126: June 2006).

The new bird is named for the Yariguies indigenous people who formerly inhabited the mountain range where the bird was found. A large and colorful finch with black, yellow and red plumage, the new species differs from its closest relatives in having a black back and no white markings on its wings. It also is found in other nearby mountains in Colombia's eastern Andean range. Genetic, morphological and vocal studies have confirmed its identity as a new taxon.

"Before we began this study, no one knew what species lived in the Yariguíes Mountains and whether they needed protecting," said Thomas Donegan. "Now, we are beginning to describe new taxa and a national park was established in the region. It is surprising that this new brush-finch and the forests of the Yariguíes Mountains could remain unstudied, undescribed and unprotected for so long."

This description is noteworthy in that one of the two birds caught by the team and used in the description as a type specimen was released unharmed, a DNA sample and photographs having been taken. This is the first time that a live specimen has been used for the description of a new bird following the approval by the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature of such techniques last year.

With biological justification resulting from this research and following other initiatives, Serranía de los Yariguíes was declared a national park last year by the Colombian government and a large forest nature reserve was recently established in the region by Fundación ProAves, Colombia's bird conservation NGO.

"The description of a new bird is a rare event in modern times," said Blanca Huertas. "However, this is just the first of several new species that we will be describing from the Yariguíes Mountains. In my own specialist group, butterflies, we have found several new taxa that will be described soon."

The new bird discovered was funded due to an on-going commitment to the environment from BP, whom supports the BP Conservation Programme Awards. This year, the programme awarded 27 winning teams from 21 different countries with support totalling $475,000.

The awards support the vital work of a new rising generation of conservation professionals and drive practical research projects addressing a wide range of global environmental issues.

This year, 19 teams were awarded "Future Conservationist Awards" and eight awards were granted to teams to continue and further their projects that previously were awarded funding from the BP Conservation Programme. Three teams received "Conservation Leadership Awards" and five teams received "Conservation Follow-up Awards."

The annual awards aim to develop leadership potential in a new generation of conservation professionals and address global conservation priorities at a local level by assisting and encouraging teams of young people to undertake important conservation projects globally.

The BP Conservation Programme is a partnership between BP, BirdLife International, Fauna & Flora International, Conservation International and the Wildlife Conservation Society. For more information about year's winning projects, visit http://conservation.bp.com.

 

[Rrose_Selavy]

Discovered: Europe's first new mammal in 100 years
By Mark Henderson, Science Editor







A NEW mammal species — thought to be the first discovered in Europe for more than a century — has been identified by a scientist based at the University of Durham.

The grey mouse, found in Cyprus by Thomas Cucchi, has been confirmed as an entirely new species by genetic tests, overturning the widespread assumption that Europe had no mammals left to be discovered.

Dr Cucchi, who is French, was working on the Mediterranean island studying mouse teeth from the Stone Age period and comparing them with those of four modern mouse species when he came across a variety that seemed to differ from all known European mice.

The species, named Mus cypriacus, or the Cypriot mouse, has a larger head, ears, eyes and teeth than previously known examples. It is described in the journal Zootaxa.

The find is remarkable because new mammal species are seldom reported anywhere in the world, and most recent discoveries have emerged from regions such as New Guinea that are not densely populated and have been little studied by scientists.

The biodiversity of Europe has been combed through so extensively since Victorian times that few expected creatures as large as mice to be found.

“New mammal species are mainly discovered in hotspots of biodiversity like South East Asia and it was generally believed that every species of mammal in Europe had been identified,” Dr Cucchi said. “This is why the discovery of a new species of mouse on Cyprus was so unexpected and exciting.”

Dr Cucchi’s work has shown that the Cypriot mouse appears to predate the arrival of human beings on the island, an unusual occurrence because most other mammals endemic to Mediterranean islands died out when challenged by the presence of Man and the animals he brought with him.

“To understand the origin of this new mouse I compared its teeth morphology with the ones of fossil mice collected by palaeontologists,” he said. “This comparison revealed that this mouse colonised and adapted to the Cypriot environment several thousand years before the arrival of Man.

“The discovery of this new species and the riddle behind its survival offers a new area of study for scientists studying the evolutionary process of mammals and the ecological consequences of human activities on island biodiversity.”

The mouse is the latest of about a dozen species of mammals discovered by scientists over the past few years.

Last month, researchers from Conservation International found a new species of tree rat in the Amapa region of the Brazilian rainforest, along with other new amphibians, lizards and fish.

In May, scientists confirmed that a monkey named the kipunji, found in Tanzania last year, is the first new primate to be discovered for 83 years. It even belongs to a new genus — a level of classification one higher than the species.

A new mouse was discovered recently on the island of Camiguin, in the Philippines, and last year scientists photographed a strange creature in Borneo thought to be a new species of carnivore. Most surprisingly, a bizarre rodent that was first spotted in a bushmeat market in Laos has turned out to be a member of a family of mammals that was thought to have become extinct more than 11 million years ago.

The kha-nyou, or Laonastes aenigmamus, is more like an extinct family of Asian mammals called the Diatomyidae than any modern rodent.


Copyright 2006 Times Newspapers Ltd.

Picture here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 72,00.html

 

[ramonmercado]

Published online: 24 November 2006; | doi:10.1038/news061120-15
Lemur boon on Madagascar
Genetic analysis turns up three new species.
Ned Stafford

A wide-eyed mouse lemur has its DNA tested to see what species it belongs to. Click here for a slide-show

University of Veterinary Medicine, Hanover.

The number of known species of the mouse lemur, the world's smallest primate, has increased by 25% with the description of three new species, bringing the total to 15.

Mouse lemurs are wide-eyed nocturnal animals that scamper around the forests of Madagascar, an island that harbors a tremendous diversity of wildlife.

Finding new examples of the tiny animals isn't a huge shock — two new lemur species were reported in Madagascar just last year (see 'All eyes on Madagascar's tiny discovery' ). Nonetheless, says Jörg Ganzhorn, head of the department of animal ecology and conservation at the University of Hamburg in Germany, and discoverer of several mouse lemurs himself, the new additions make a "very significant contribution" to our understanding of mouse lemur diversity.

Ganzhorn, who is also regional coordinator for the IUCN Species Survival Commission's primate specialist group in Madagascar, cautions that not all of the previous 12 named mouse lemur types might actually be unique species. Some have not been reported in peer-reviewed journals, he notes, and the genetic differences between some of these animals is very small.

Sorting out the number of species is important to conservation efforts says Olivieri's supervisor, project leader Ute Radespiel, who also was involved in the description of a new mouse lemur species in the late 1990s. The discovery of new species confined to small areas "creates an enormous challenge for those of us interested in their long-term survival," he says. The more species of these endearing creatures, the harder it may be to protect them all from environmental change — particularly as deforestation may wipe out the habitat of a species confined to a small area.

Hot on the trail

Finding the cute creatures was the result of 14 months of rough fieldwork between 2003 and 2005, by a team including Gillian Olivieri, a doctoral student at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hanover, Germany. "You have to enjoy nature," laughs Olivieri.

Olivieri and her team traveled in remote areas in a beat-up four-wheel drive, which broke down several times during their six-month stints (see slide-show). They would set up camp for a few weeks at a time, hiring locals to cut trails and placing steel traps loaded with tasty bits of banana at 20-metre intervals. The team would check the traps each morning, with variable success - their record was 52 mouse lemurs captured over one four-night run, says Olivieri.

Taking tissue samples from the lemurs' ears could be a challenge, says Olivieri — some were feisty when pulled from the traps, trying to bite and escape. But others were docile. "Some seemed quite happy to have something different," she says.

Genetic analysis proved the existence of three new species, which the team has named microcebus bongolavensis, microcebus danfossi and microcebus lokobensis. The results are published online in Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution1.

Olivieri confesses to having grown fond of the little creatures. "They are very cute," she says.


References
Olivieri G., et al. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, advance online publication doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.10.026 (2006).



Story from [email protected]:
http://news.nature.com//news/2006/061120/061120-15.html

 

[evilsprout]

Clouded Leopard may be two different species

For many years the clouded leopard was traditionally regarded as a monotypic genus with four subspecies. But recent molecular genetic analyses (mtDNA, nuclear DNA sequences, microsatellite variation, and cytogenetic differences) have revealed that there is however a strong case for reclassification and the defining of two distinct species of clouded leopard - Neofelis nebulosa (mainland Asia) and Neofelis diardi (Indonesian archipelago). This case for two clouded leopard species based on genetic distinction that is equivalent to, or greater than, comparable measures among other Panthera species (lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, and snow leopard) is also strongly supported by the geographical variation revealed by morphometric analyses of the pelage (coat colour and patterns) between clouded leopard in Mainland Asia and in Indonesia (Borneo and Sumatra); again providing a compelling case for reclassification into two distinct species N. nebulosa and N. diardi. Paper abstract afterwards ->

--

Valerie A. Buckley-Beason, Warren E. Johnson, Willliam G. Nash, Roscoe Stanyon, Joan C. Menninger, Carlos A. Driscoll, JoGayle Howard, Mitch Bush, John E. Page, Melody E. Roelke et al. 2006. Molecular Evidence for Species-Level Distinctions in Clouded Leopards. Current Biology 16(23): 2371-2376.

Among the 37 living species of Felidae, the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is generally classified as a monotypic genus basal to the Panthera lineage of great cats. This secretive, mid-sized (16–23 kg) carnivore, now severely endangered, is traditionally subdivided into four southeast Asian subspecies (Figure 1A). We used molecular genetic methods to re-evaluate subspecies partitions and to quantify patterns of population genetic variation among 109 clouded leopards of known geographic origin (Figure 1A, Tables S1 and S2 in the Supplemental Data available online). We found strong phylogeographic monophyly and large genetic distances between N. n. nebulosa (mainland) and N. n. diardi (Borneo; n = 3 individuals) with mtDNA (771 bp), nuclear DNA (3100 bp), and 51 microsatellite loci. Thirty-six fixed mitochondrial and nuclear nucleotide differences and 20 microsatellite loci with nonoverlapping allele-size ranges distinguished N. n. nebulosa from N. n. diardi. Along with fixed subspecies-specific chromosomal differences, this degree of differentiation is equivalent to, or greater than, comparable measures among five recognized Panthera species (lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, and snow leopard). These distinctions increase the urgency of clouded leopard conservation efforts, and if affirmed by morphological analysis and wider sampling of N. n. diardi in Borneo and Sumatra, would support reclassification of N. n. diardi as a new species (Neofelis diardi).

Email: [email protected]

--

Andrew C. Kitchener, Mark A. Beaumont and Douglas Richardson. 2006. Geographical Variation in the Clouded Leopard, Neofelis nebulosa, Reveals Two Species. Current Biology 16(23): 2377-2383.

The clouded leopard, Neofelis nebulosa, is an endangered semiarboreal felid with a wide distribution in tropical forests of southern and southeast Asia, including the islands of Sumatra and Borneo in the Indonesian archipelago. In common with many larger animal species, it displays morphological variation within its wide geographical range and is currently regarded as comprising of up to four subspecies. It is widely recognized that taxonomic designation has a major impact on conservation planning and action. Given that the last taxonomic revision was made over 50 years ago, a more detailed examination of geographical variation is needed. We describe here the results of a morphometric analysis of the pelages of 57 clouded leopards sampled throughout the species' range. We conclude that there are two distinct morphological groups, which differ primarily in the size of their cloud markings. These results are supported by a recent genetic analysis. On that basis, we give diagnoses for the distinction of two species, one in mainland Asia (N. nebulosa) and the other in Indonesia (N. diardi). The implications for conservation that arise from this new taxonomic arrangement are discussed.

http://www.carnivoreconservation.org/do ... dae-family

 

[evilsprout]

Moth that drinks the tears of birds

A species of moth drinks tears from the eyes of sleeping birds using a fearsome proboscis shaped like a harpoon, scientists have revealed. The new discovery – spied in Madagascar – is the first time moths have been seen feeding on the tears of birds.

Roland Hilgartner at the German Primate Centre in Göttingen, Germany, and Mamisolo Raoilison Hilgartner at the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar, witnessed the apparently unique sight in the island state’s Kirindy forest.

Tear-feeding moths and butterflies are known to exist elsewhere in Africa, Asia and South America, but they mainly feed on large, placid animals, such as deer, antelope or crocodiles, which cannot readily brush them away. But there are no such large animals on Madagascar. The main mammals – lemurs and mongoose – have paws capable of shooing the moths. Birds can fly away.

But not when they are sleeping. The Madagascan moths were observed on the necks of sleeping magpie robins and Newtonia birds, with the tip of their proboscises inserted under the bird’s eyelid, drinking avidly (scroll down for images). This was during the wet season, so the scientists think the insects wanted salt, as the local soils are low in sodium.

But sleeping birds have two eyelids, both closed. So instead of the soft, straw-like mouthparts found on tear-drinking moths elsewhere, the Madagascan moth has a proboscis with hooks and barbs “shaped like an ancient harpoon”, Hilgartner says.

This can be inserted under the bird’s eyelids, where the barbs anchor it, apparently without disturbing the bird. The team does not yet know whether the insect spits out an anaesthetic to dull the irritation. They also want to investigate whether, like their counterparts elsewhere, the Madagascan tear-drinkers are all males who get most of their nutrition from the tears.

Journal reference: Biology Letters (DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2006.0581)

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns? ... news_rss20

 

[evilsprout]

New jellyfish for the new year

RESEARCHERS have started the year finding two new species of jellyfish in North Queensland including one with three sex organs.

One of the new species was found, completely by chance, off a Port Douglas dock on New Years Eve.

Townsville-based stinger expert Lisa Gershwin, who has yet to name her discovery, joked it could be named after a NYE tradition, Auldlangsynia.

"We were just lying on a dock with all the parties around us and peering into the water checking out all the life swimming around in the water, attracted by the lights," Dr Gershwin said.

"We were literally fishing with an eyedropper and lifted this jellyfish out of the water.

"It was about 1mm tall and absolutely beautiful."

The small jellyfish is not a deadly species.

It has three gonads – the reproductive organ of jellyfish.

The gonads are in a long, tubular form, divided into three sections.

The second species was found by lifesavers dragging the beach along Yorkeys Knob in Cairns.

Dr Gershwin described the new species as 'absolutely gorgeous'.

"It's about an inch across, with a brilliant red cross on its body. It's just gorgeous. There are lots of big tentacles. It packs a hell of a wallop, but is not deadly.

"It's more of an 'ow-ee' type stinger."

The stinger scientist, who has identified 149 new species of jellyfish, also rang in her New Year capturing a live specimen of pseudo-Irukandji at Clump Point Jetty at Mission Beach on Monday night.

The pseudo-Irukandji is believed to be the same species that killed American Robert King off far north Queensland in 2002.

"It was one of the main species in my thesis, but to have a live specimen in an aquarium where we can observe and record its behaviour and experiment with is incredible, both from a research perspective and public safety point of view," Dr Gershwin said.

"This is a very, very rare species that you don't get to see that often."

She said the discoveries were reminders of a virtual treasure chest of marine life yet to be found in the ocean.

"These were all found in the space of two days."

http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.au/c ... 87,00.html

Has anyone got any more info on the "pseudo-Irukandji"?[/b]

 

[ramonmercado]

Rare marine species discovered in Philippines

A French-led marine expedition has discovered thousands of new species of crustaceans and mollusks in waters around the central Philippines, officials and scientists announced Monday.

The discovery was made by the Panglao Marine Biodiversity Project, which has been conducting "an intensive inventory" of the complex coastal ecosystem off Panglao island for the past two years.

Some 80 scientists, students and volunteers from 19 countries took part in the ground-breaking research.

"Numerous species were observed and photographed alive, many for the first time," the scientists, led by Philippe Bouchet, of the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in France, said in a statement.

"It is estimated that 150-250 of the crustaceans and 1,500-2,500 of the mollusks are new species," the statement said.

"To put it in perspective, the whole decapod crustacean (shrimp or prawn) fauna of Japan barely exceeds 1,600 species.

"The Mediterranean (300 million hectares) has 340 species of decapods and 2,024 species of mollusks," the statement said.

Some 50 species were presented to the Philippine National Museum on Monday.

Bouchet said data was collected using both academic and traditional methods such as dredging and trawling, diving and deep-water nets which Panglao fishermen traditionally use.

Bouchet said the international science expedition in Panglao is the most comprehensive coral reef mollusk survey ever undertaken worldwide.

To push the research forward, the French embassy has announced a five-year programme to explore the deep-water fauna of the Philippines titled "Census of Philippines Deep-Sea Biodiversity."

The embassy said that, with a total of 80 participants from the Philippines, other ASEAN countries, Europe and the United States, the Panglao Marine Biodiversity Project was the most comprehensive survey of deep-sea invertebrates ever conducted anywhere in the tropics.


http://www.physorg.com/printnews.php?newsid=89881604

 

[OneWingedBird]

...perhaps not truly crypto, but still very interesting, article has some pretty kitty pictures too...

Island leopard deemed new species

Clouded leopards found on Sumatra and Borneo represent a new species, research by genetic scientists and the conservation group WWF indicates.

Until now it had been thought they belonged to the species that is found on mainland southeast Asia.

Scientists now believe the two species diverged more than one million years ago, and have evolved separately since.

Clouded leopards are the biggest predators on Borneo, and can grow as large as small panthers.

The separation of the species was discovered by scientists at the US National Cancer Institute near Washington DC.

"Genetic research results clearly indicate that the clouded leopards of Borneo should be considered a separate species," said Dr Stephen O'Brien, head of the Institute's Laboratory of Genomic Diversity.

"DNA tests highlighted around 40 differences between the two species."

Tell tails

Supporting evidence came from examination of fur patterns. Leopards from Borneo and Sumatra have small "clouds" with many distinct spots within them, grey and dark fur, and twin stripes along their backs.

Their mainland cousins have large cloud markings on their skin with fewer, often faint, spots within the cloud markings, and are lighter and more tawny in colour.

"The moment we started comparing the skins of the mainland clouded leopard and the leopard found on Borneo, it was clear we were comparing two different species," said Dr Andrew Kitchener from the National Museums of Scotland.

"It's incredible that no-one has ever noticed these differences."

WWF, which maintains a large conservation operation on Borneo, estimates there are between 5,000 and 11,000 clouded leopards on the island, with a further 3,000 to 7,000 on Sumatra.

"The fact that Borneo's top predator is now considered a separate species further emphasises the importance of conserving the 'Heart of Borneo'," said WWF's Stuart Chapman, co-ordinator of a project seeking to preserve the island's wildlife.

The three governments with territory on the island - Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei - signed an agreement earlier this year pledging to protect the "Heart of Borneo", 200,000 square kilometres of rainforest in the middle of the island thought to be particularly high in biodiversity.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6452555.stm