VOICES FOR THE AMAZON
en
arzh-CNnlenfrdeitptrues

The World Wildlife Fund reports that at least 441 new species of plants and animals have been discovered in the Amazon rainforest in just three years. The species include  258 species of plants, 84 fish, 22 reptiles, 18 birds and one new mammal, plus countless insects and other invertebrates. Some of the highlights:

• Thumbnail-sized frog: This amphibian is already believed to be highly endangered. In fact, its Latin name, Allobates amissibilis, meaning “that may be lost,” alludes to this as the area where it thrives could soon be opened to tourism. This is now the third Allobates species found in Guyana.

• Vegetarian Piranha: This new species of piranha, Tometes camunani, can span 20 inches wide and weigh up to 9 pounds, and is strictly herbivorous. The freshwater fish inhabits rocky rapids associated with seedlings of plants that grow among the rocks, its main source of food. Tometes is described from the upper drainages of the Trombetas River basin, Para, Brazilian Amazon.

• A brightly colored snake from the “Lost World”: Found in the mountains of Guyana, this brightly-colored snake species was named Chironius challenger after Arthur C. Doyle’s fictional character Professor George Edward Challenger in the novel, The Lost World.

• A beautiful pink orchid: Among the new plant species are a large number of new orchid species, including this splendid pink species, Sobralia imavieirae, officially described by scientists from Roraima in the Brazilian Amazon.

• Caqueta titi monkey: This new species, Callicebus caquetensis, is one of about 20 species of titi monkey, which all live in the Amazon basin. The babies have an endearing trait, “When they feel very content they purr towards each other,” explained scientist Thomas Defler.

Many of these species can be found only in the Amazon rainforest, which means their very existence is threatened by the loss of habitat due to mining and deforestation. You can help protect them by supporting the Amazon Aid Foundation and Acre+Care.