A great find was this golden-fronted bower bird, whose origins had long been a mystery. It treated the team to a stunning courtship ritual, hanging up blue forest berries to attract females. © AP
Posted on 12/19/2006 5:18:21 AM PST by TheKidster
More than 50 new species of animals and plants that have never been seen before have been discovered in a 'Lost World' on the island of Borneo in just 18 months, say scientists.
Among them are two tree frogs, a whole range of plants and trees and 30 brand new types of fish including a tiny one less than a centimetre long and a catfish with an adhesive belly that allows it to stick to rocks.
Scientists said the remarkable discoveries on the island - equivalent to one a week over the past year - show why the unique environment must be preserved for future generations.
They said its previously remote and inaccessible forests are one of the "final frontiers for science".
Yet they are under threat from developers wanting to create new rubber and palm oil plantations.
Last year the WWF conservation charity revealed how 361 new species had been identified and described on Borneo since 1994.
Now a new report has revealed how since July 2005 another 52 new species have been discovered.
Among them is the russet-coloured tree frog officially called Rhacophorus gadingensis.
The 30 new species of fish include one which is the world’s second smallest vertebrate.
The miniature fish, measuring less than one centimetre in length, was found in the highly acidic blackwater peat swamps of the island.
Scientists from the charity have also found six Siamese fighting fish, including one with beautiful russet scales marked with a flash of iridescent blue-green on its side.
The creatures also include a new type of catfish that has an adhesive belly which allows it to stick to rock.
The WWF says the discovery of so many unique species highlights the need to conserve the habitat and species of the world’s third largest island.
Several of these new species were found in the "Heart of Borneo", a mountainous region of almost 85,000 square miles which is covered with equatorial rainforest in the centre of the island.
This habitat continues to be threatened as large areas of forest are being increasingly cleared for rubber and oil palm production.
Since 1996, deforestation across Indonesia has increased to an average of 2 million hectares per year and today only half of Borneo's original forest cover remains.
Stuart Chapman, International Coordinator of the Heart of Borneo programme, said: "These discoveries reaffirm Borneo’s position as one of the most important centres of biodiversity in the world. "The remote and inaccessible forests in the Heart of Borneo are one of the world’s final frontiers for science and many undiscovered species are still waiting to be found there."
The three governments on Borneo - Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam - have recently declared a commitment to supporting plans to conserve the area.
However they have yet to finalise a formal joint declaration to make it a global priority. Borneo is one of only two places on earth, the other one is Sumatra Island, where endangered species such as orang-utans, elephants and rhinos co-exist. Other threatened wildlife that lives in Borneo include clouded leopards, sun bears, and endemic Bornean gibbons. The island is also home to 10 primate species, over 350 bird species, 150 reptiles and amphibians and 15,000 plants.
The newly-discovered Rhacophorus gadingensis tree frog measures 29.5 mm in length and has a wide head, large eyes and a head that is slightly wider than it is long.
It was named after the Gunung Gading National Park in Sarawak, western Borneo where it was found.
The gastromyzon sucker fish are unique to Borneo and were found in the Temburong River basin in the Brunei-controlled part of the island.
They behave more like tadpoles than fish and live in freshwater.
Their enlarged fins allow them to cling onto rocks in fast flowing water and feed on algae and insects.
Scientists also found a new species of catfish called glyptothorax in the Heart of Borneo.
The mottled creature lives in clear streams and has a special organ that allows it to stick onto rocks.
Six new species of Siamese fighting fish were also found in the freshwaters on the island, three from the the Heart of Borneo and the rest in Kalimantan.
Borneo has long attracted traders - including the British between the 17th and 19th centuries who established footholds along the northern coast.
It has also lured scientists for at least 150 years due to its remarkable diversity of creatures.
However there are still areas of the island that remain largely unexplored.
The inner region, called the Heart of Borneo contains relatively inaccessible pristine forest and experts believe there may be thousands more plants and animals still to discover.
Because of their isolation, these areas can harbour a unique and rich selection of species from Asian and Australasian families.
Borneo is very rich in biodiversity compared to many other areas. There are about 15,000 species of flowering plants with 3,000 species of trees, 221 species of terrestrial mammals and 420 species of resident birds in Borneo. Even the largest animals on Borneo have yet to be closely studied by scientists.
It was only in 2003 that experts found that the island's pygmy elephants are genetically distinct from other Asian elephants and are likely a new subspecies. And it wasn't until 2000 that scientists found that Borneo's orang-utan population is a separate species from other orang-utans.
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This article is an obvious hoax. No way can there be new species to discover. Everyone knows that mankind and our slashing and burning of old growth forests, our coal fired power plants, and our much dreaded SUV's are killing off species by the hundreds every day.
Yesterday I was reading the post about the fresh water dolphin being declared extinct. Now we have all these new species being discovered. Does that amount to a net gain in biodiversity?
Any 45 foot gorillas?
Yes it is.
But what gets me is the p.c. 'newspeak' use of the word 'forest', and it's used Seven times in the article. But it's not a 'forest', I have 'forests' near my house.
And "inaccessible pristine forest" my patoot. The 'Heart of Borneo' is a jungle, impenetrable JUNGLE - period.
(oh-oh. is the use of 'Jungle' a Hate Crime now?)
This is an obvious attempt to illustrate that fact. I don't go all the way with it but I think there should be some sort of compromise between the economic interests of the people and the legitimate concerns of the scientists documenting these finds.
I was hoping there'd be something about that, maybe he's still in the "heart". He'll come out to get a job once the developers get a bit closer.
I dunno, some animals just don't belong in this world anymore, some that could survive and adapt I believe we should protect to some degree. Those that can't adapt with or without human interference/protection should be left to nature.
Gosh, this sounds so swell I just want the guys from Disney to buy it and turn it into a theme park...
I thought there was a version of the abominable snowman over in that area, maybe it was Sumatra?
I don't believe it of course but it's a fun idea to play with.
As I understand it they have found a gun with both Hitlery's and Vince Foster's prints indicat struggle!
Any Jumping Lions in the mix there?
A great find was this golden-fronted bower bird, whose origins had long been a mystery. It treated the team to a stunning courtship ritual, hanging up blue forest berries to attract females. © AP
Well, there you have it. Proof in creationism. New species are being created all the time.
This tree kangaroo is one of the more lovable of the new species discovered. Obviously, a very relaxed critter with a sweet disposition considering this is its first contact with humans.
How long do you figure it'll be before some fools start to import these as pets?
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