Suriname expedition finds over 40 new species
Crayola Kandid - photograph: P. Naskrecki
A three-week long expedition led by Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) has discovered over species that are new to science in the tropical rainforests of Suriname. The team of scientists, students and indigenous peoples recorded sightings of 1300 species in total, and their records are being studied to determine just how many were previously unknown. At time of writing, 46 of the species they sighted were not previously recorded.
Amongst the species that the expedition believe to be new to science are the 'crayola katydid' (a cricket, so-called because of its bright colouring), the 'cowboy frog' (which has a structure on the heel that recalls a spur) and an armoured catfish that was almost eaten by one of the expedition guides before a quick-thinking scientist was able to stop them.
The expedition have already assisted local people in the designation of an area of the forest as a 'no take zone'. It is hoped that the area will ultimately become a small nature reserve that will allow the indigenous people to hunt in a sustainable manner, safeguard the wildlife and encourage ecotourism. Commenting on the expedition's experience of Suriname's rainforests, RAP Director Dr Trond Larsen said "As you fly into the area, you travel for 100s of mile and often [don't] see a single road - just continuous forest. It's one of the last places in the world where you can find that wilderness."
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