New animal and plant species discovered!!

*Raph's Girl* · 02-07-2006, 04:32 AM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060207/...dmBHNlYwM3NTM-

A team of scientists exploring an isolated jungle in one of Indonesia's most remote provinces said they discovered dozens of new species of frogs, butterflies and plants — as well as large mammals hunted to near extinction elsewhere.

The team also found wildlife that were remarkably unafraid of humans during their rapid assessment survey of the Foja Mountains, which has more than two million acres of old growth tropical forest, Bruce Beehler, a co-leader of the monthlong trip, said in announcing the discoveries on Tuesday.

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, he said.

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.

The December 2005 expedition to the eastern province of Papua was organized by the U.S.-based environmental organization Conservation International and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences.

"There was not a single trail, no sign of civilization, no sign of even local communities ever having been there," said Beehler, 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. "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 U.S., 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 a half-inch long — four new butterfly species, and at least five new types of palms.

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

"We've only scratched the surface," said 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.

One of the reasons for the rain forest's isolation, he said, was that only a few hundred people live in the region and game in the mountain's foothills was 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."

Raph's Girl note: I wonder if this is where that big foot type creature lives?

But seriously wow! New animals including at least 20 new frogs! That'll definatly bring the frog species category up since so many others have gone extinct in the last decade.

Here's some images of the new species:

This is a Berlepsch's Six-wired Bird of Paradise. Which hasn't been seen since the 1890's!

This is a Golden Fronted Bower Bird. Which has also been "lost" since the 1890's.

This is the Smokey Honeyeater. A brand new species!

And here you can read more on the expidition here:
http://www.conservation.org/xp/front...s/02070601.xml

*VaughnMichael* · 02-07-2006, 04:40 AM

thats so awsome! I always knew there had to be more animals on our planet that we haven't seen and I'm quite sure there are even more still to be found in deep forests underground and deep depths of the ocean!
we need to start exploring earth more before trying to send more people off into outer space

thanks soooo much for sharing this!
-Putrescent

*iris* · 02-07-2006, 08:50 AM

Cool article, Raph's girl! Frogs are awesome.

There are actually a lot of species that we have yet to catalogue on his planet. Most of them are in rainforests such as the Indonesian one mentioned here. Species may go extinct with every new acre of rainforest that we cut down because they only live in a small area. My dad keeps telling me I should see the rainforests before they're all wrecked.

**Jo Dawn** · 02-07-2006, 09:20 AM

That is absolutely facinating. I love that there are places like that, so untouched by humans and time. I want to see pictures of the other animals, too!!

*Mecha Cow* · 02-07-2006, 09:40 AM

Amazing. I can't wait to see what else they have found or will find.

*Raph's Girl* · 02-07-2006, 04:44 PM

Pics of more animals they've discovered.

A female bird of Paradise.

the tiny microhylid frog.

Another image of the 6 wired bird of paradise.

Long Beaked Echidna.

Golden Mantled Tree Kangaroo

New Tree Frog

edit: Found out that the bird the guy is holding is a female bird of paradise.

**Machias Banshee** · 02-08-2006, 12:52 AM

Eee! I LOVE stuff like this!

I checked out yahoo again, and they've put up a slideshow, 20 pictures in all of the new species...!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060208/...NlYwN5bmNhdA--

Some of the birds look absolutely Beautiful.. such cute frogs too!

**GK Punk** · 02-08-2006, 12:57 AM

Those frogs melt my heart. Frogs are one of my favorite animals.

*Raph's Girl* · 02-08-2006, 01:19 AM

Ooh.. didn't see those...I'll put em up here...it's alot easier than going thru the slide show. I just LOVE the looks of the new Rhododendrons! They're the State tree of Washington!

I've got a couple.

This is apperantly a Great White Rhododendron. Purple Rhody's are cooler tho.

This new species of Rhody needs a name! Umm... Flaming Rhododendron? Ooh or Sunset Rhody?

Now THAT's what I call a palm frond!

A new species of Frog. Looks somewhat like a Pigfrog or a Goliath Frog IMO.

*Duke* · 02-08-2006, 01:20 AM

Pretty interesting stuff.

Ra · 02-08-2006, 05:10 AM

I saw this on TV. It's a shame really. Tourists may come in a few years and distroy the habitat. I'm not saying they will, but everyone must be pretty careful about who goes there. It would be a shame for some of those speices are wiped out in a few years by us humans

All the same this is pretty interesting stuff

*Garou* · 02-08-2006, 06:29 AM

I'm concerned about that too. Especially due to the fact, that none of the animals were afraid of the exspedition team. Who knows what some people would try to get away with.

*Voltron* · 02-08-2006, 10:13 PM

I hope these animals are delicious. The last few new discoveries didn't taste good at all.

*The Stryker* · 02-08-2006, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voltron

I hope these animals are delicious. The last few new discoveries didn't taste good at all.

And we have a winner.

02-07-2006, 04:32 AM	#1
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	New animal and plant species discovered!! http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060207/...dmBHNlYwM3NTM- A team of scientists exploring an isolated jungle in one of Indonesia's most remote provinces said they discovered dozens of new species of frogs, butterflies and plants — as well as large mammals hunted to near extinction elsewhere. The team also found wildlife that were remarkably unafraid of humans during their rapid assessment survey of the Foja Mountains, which has more than two million acres of old growth tropical forest, Bruce Beehler, a co-leader of the monthlong trip, said in announcing the discoveries on Tuesday. 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, he said. 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. The December 2005 expedition to the eastern province of Papua was organized by the U.S.-based environmental organization Conservation International and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences. "There was not a single trail, no sign of civilization, no sign of even local communities ever having been there," said Beehler, 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. "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 U.S., 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 a half-inch long — four new butterfly species, and at least five new types of palms. Because of the rich diversity in the forest, the group rarely had to stray more than a few miles from their base camp. "We've only scratched the surface," said 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. One of the reasons for the rain forest's isolation, he said, was that only a few hundred people live in the region and game in the mountain's foothills was 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." Raph's Girl note: I wonder if this is where that big foot type creature lives? But seriously wow! New animals including at least 20 new frogs! That'll definatly bring the frog species category up since so many others have gone extinct in the last decade. Here's some images of the new species: This is a Berlepsch's Six-wired Bird of Paradise. Which hasn't been seen since the 1890's! This is a Golden Fronted Bower Bird. Which has also been "lost" since the 1890's. This is the Smokey Honeyeater. A brand new species! And here you can read more on the expidition here: http://www.conservation.org/xp/front...s/02070601.xml __________________

02-07-2006, 08:50 AM	#3
iris moddy mod mod Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: finally escaped the lab Posts: 1,886	Cool article, Raph's girl! Frogs are awesome. There are actually a lot of species that we have yet to catalogue on his planet. Most of them are in rainforests such as the Indonesian one mentioned here. Species may go extinct with every new acre of rainforest that we cut down because they only live in a small area. My dad keeps telling me I should see the rainforests before they're all wrecked. __________________ Appeal to nobler motives. Like pie. [ life is at best bitter sweet ]

02-07-2006, 09:20 AM	#4
Jo Dawn Inactive Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Authority On All Things Don Posts: 5,190	That is absolutely facinating. I love that there are places like that, so untouched by humans and time. I want to see pictures of the other animals, too!! __________________

02-07-2006, 09:40 AM	#5
Mecha Cow Gorgeous and modest too Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 3,699	Amazing. I can't wait to see what else they have found or will find. __________________

02-07-2006, 04:44 PM	#6
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	Pics of more animals they've discovered. A female bird of Paradise. the tiny microhylid frog. Another image of the 6 wired bird of paradise. Long Beaked Echidna. Golden Mantled Tree Kangaroo New Tree Frog edit: Found out that the bird the guy is holding is a female bird of paradise. __________________ Last edited by Raph's Girl; 02-08-2006 at 01:22 AM.

02-07-2006, 04:40 AM	#2
VaughnMichael I'm Baaaaaaccck! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 11,833	thats so awsome! I always knew there had to be more animals on our planet that we haven't seen and I'm quite sure there are even more still to be found in deep forests underground and deep depths of the ocean! we need to start exploring earth more before trying to send more people off into outer space thanks soooo much for sharing this! -Putrescent

02-08-2006, 12:52 AM	#7
Machias Banshee Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 17,163	Eee! I LOVE stuff like this! I checked out yahoo again, and they've put up a slideshow, 20 pictures in all of the new species...! http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060208/...NlYwN5bmNhdA-- Some of the birds look absolutely Beautiful.. such cute frogs too!

02-08-2006, 12:57 AM	#8
GK Punk I'm your Devil Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 12,439	Those frogs melt my heart. Frogs are one of my favorite animals.

02-08-2006, 01:19 AM	#9
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	Ooh.. didn't see those...I'll put em up here...it's alot easier than going thru the slide show. I just LOVE the looks of the new Rhododendrons! They're the State tree of Washington! I've got a couple. This is apperantly a Great White Rhododendron. Purple Rhody's are cooler tho. This new species of Rhody needs a name! Umm... Flaming Rhododendron? Ooh or Sunset Rhody? Now THAT's what I call a palm frond! A new species of Frog. Looks somewhat like a Pigfrog or a Goliath Frog IMO. __________________

02-08-2006, 01:20 AM	#10
Duke Mad Scientist Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 1,913	Pretty interesting stuff.

02-08-2006, 05:10 AM	#11
Ra It's my desire? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In your pants. Posts: 4,441	I saw this on TV. It's a shame really. Tourists may come in a few years and distroy the habitat. I'm not saying they will, but everyone must be pretty careful about who goes there. It would be a shame for some of those speices are wiped out in a few years by us humans All the same this is pretty interesting stuff __________________ "So. The whole lot of you against little old me? How retarded."

02-08-2006, 06:29 AM	#12
Garou On a X-Men: Evo trip! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: In a different and wicked reality... Posts: 1,991	I'm concerned about that too. Especially due to the fact, that none of the animals were afraid of the exspedition team. Who knows what some people would try to get away with. __________________ Ferret Bureau of Investigation

02-08-2006, 10:13 PM	#13
Voltron Handsomest Boy in School Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Realm of SJW Posts: 4,642	I hope these animals are delicious. The last few new discoveries didn't taste good at all. __________________ I AM FOR ACTUAL! . . . and the White Savior. . . and the Right Hand of God. . .