40 new species discovered in Papua New Guinea

[Thirsty]

As a testament to the unknown biodiversity present in the world's rainforest, 40 new species of animals have been discovered in the rainforests on Papua New Guinea. Among these are the worlds largest rat, fanged frogs, and small bear-like animals. This area is practically unexplored, and many more species will soon be found.

The article can be found here. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/sep/07/discovery-species-papua-new-guinea)

[Krill]

Whoah, cool.

I was sad that the frog picture in the gallery lacked fangs.

I really liked the caterpillars (attached) though.

[Cbug]

As big as a cat!

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Media/Pix/pictures/2009/9/8/1252416288229/Steve-Greenwood-and-a-Bos-001.jpg

[Thirsty]

As big as a cat!

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Media/Pix/pictures/2009/9/8/1252416288229/Steve-Greenwood-and-a-Bos-001.jpg
I know, the fascinating bit is that it was indifferent to humans. I would guess that this is due to it being one of the more dominant species in the area, but it's the first exploration; who knows!


Whoah, cool.

I was sad that the frog picture in the gallery lacked fangs.

I really liked the caterpillars (attached) though.

I was a bit disappointed myself; they'll probably put up more pictures eventually though. An audio sample of a "grunting fish" is what I'm interested in hearing. :happpy:


Currently, no wikipedia articles exist on any of the animals (Not a big surprise). I'm going to time how long it takes for one to be put up. Let's put the information-exchanging power of the internet to the test.

[silly sally]

ooohh...i love that...cool. :happpy:

[Technical]

FSOL: Papua New Guinea

[jyng1]

They should log it and plant palm oil and rubber plantations.

More languages in PNG than the rest of the world combined.

[Technical]

They should log it and plant palm oil and rubber plantations.
Speakin' of loggin' it, there's gotta be a bush around here!...

[dubbeltop]

40 new species discovered in Papua New Guinea

Only 40 ?

[Thirsty]

40 new species discovered in Papua New Guinea

Only 40 ?

This was the first time anybody bothered to explore the area; 40 on a basic scan is quite something.

[Delilah]

Oooooh! Coincidentally, this is the face I made when I started looking at the pics:

http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss341/cdel_album/A-Striped-Possum-012.jpg

Thanks.

[jyng1]

I think "Guns, Germs and Steel" focused quite a lot on PNG, mainly as a place with little interaction between quite closely located tribal groups, leading to significant differences in between groups. But also mentioned the little known fauna. I would imagine that the 40 new species found would have been from ONE expedition. Last time I flew over PNG/Borneo, it took fucking ages. Big place to try and find stuff; and they still collect heads (or so I hear).

[Delilah]

and they still collect heads (or so I hear).

I gotta go there someday.

[jyng1]

I gotta go there someday.

You can't take any Del; we're still trying to get some back from the UK. Causes all sorts of ruckus.

There used to be a bit of a trade in Melanesia until quite recently (like 70s and 80s) and I remember them just being stopped for sale when I went to Vanuatu in 82.

[Delilah]

You can't take any Del; we're still trying to get some back from the UK. Causes all sorts of ruckus.

Damn it!

Fine, i'll just get my own! Hmph!

/pouts

[ghost]

I read a case study about this tribe in PNG made up entirely of men. The way they keep their numbers up is to kidnap young boys from other tribes.

[jyng1]

I read a case study about this tribe in PNG made up entirely of men. The way they keep their numbers up is to kidnap young boys from other tribes.

Maybe we could send them Pristinegirl for a bit of variety.

[Delilah]

Maybe we could send them Pristinegirl for a bit of variety.

I have packing tape. Jus' saying.

[Eye-In-TiPi]

As big as a cat!

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Media/Pix/pictures/2009/9/8/1252416288229/Steve-Greenwood-and-a-Bos-001.jpg


Wow! A real, live ROUS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwWcYyhrN_I) discovered in the wild. I did not think they really existed.

[Hermione]

Wow! A real, live ROUS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwWcYyhrN_I) discovered in the wild. I did not think they really existed.

Excellent point. I had forgot all about that really. hmmm [fucking scared now, i am]

[YHWH]

It looks calm and wise, reminds me of Master Splinter.

[ciphersort]

And yet it has much to learn... :frypan:

[Mizuki]

I thought the fanged frogs were pretty neat (and scary since nature makes all sorts of weird things).

My favorite is probably the bird with the red crest.

[stopharian]

I read a case study about this tribe in PNG made up entirely of men. The way they keep their numbers up is to kidnap young boys from other tribes.


kidnap a couple girls and they'd make you king of that tribe.

[Cbug]

Wow! A real, live ROUS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwWcYyhrN_I) discovered in the wild. I did not think they really existed.

:grin:

[ghost]

kidnap a couple girls and they'd make you king of that tribe.

Yeah.... I don't think it's that kind of tribe, bro.

Edit: Here we go. I found an article (http://www.gettingit.com/article/56). This isn't the tribe I was talking about, but I think they may have some of the same cultural traditions.

So anyway... It's pretty amazing that we're still finding new land species in 2009. Just imagine what's yet to be found in the oceans.

[Mizuki]

Yeah.... I don't think it's that kind of tribe, bro.

Edit: Here we go. I found an article (http://www.gettingit.com/article/56). This isn't the tribe I was talking about, but I think they may have some of the same cultural traditions.

So anyway... It's pretty amazing that we're still finding new land species in 2009. Just imagine what's yet to be found in the oceans.

O_O

I wasn't expecting that when I opened the link. How in the world did you find that out to begin with?

[Technical]

LOL two birds with one stone, I guess!

[msg_v2]

I love stories like this. I like something that reminds me how much out there is yet to be discovered. I like that there are still places on the globe we don't know much about.

It's really cool how the landscape has shaped the development of the life forms there. I think the fact that that geography and the biosphere constantly influence each other is really interesting.

I wonder what other kind of species they'll find there?

[Dark Razor]

Interesting, though considering that there are aprox 50 species eradicated every day, they probably won't last that long unfortunately. In fact, from sources I can quickly find on Google it seems virgin rainforest is destroyed at a rate of aprox 1.7 acres per second, every second, many species are destroyed before we ever discover them :sadbanana:.

[msg_v2]

I've read statistics like that before, and it's kind of a shame, but I think that this region is probably safe. I'd expect that the difficult terrain of this crater would probably leave it relatively untouched. It was pretty hard to just get the scientists in there.

[Arcturus]

Cool stuff. I'd like to have some of them as pets.

Clone them please!!

[bethanygm]

Interesting, though considering that there are aprox 50 species eradicated every day, they probably won't last that long unfortunately. In fact, from sources I can quickly find on Google it seems virgin rainforest is destroyed at a rate of aprox 1.7 acres per second, every second, many species are destroyed before we ever discover them :sadbanana:.


And so I donate to greenpeace so they can harass the people cutting down the rain forests and killing whales and seals...
They've even accomplished some things!

[Dark Razor]

And so I donate to greenpeace so they can harass the people cutting down the rain forests and killing whales and seals...
They've even accomplished some things!

Yeah, I sympathize with those groups, some of them are pretty badass too.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w95/Zaphod1983/b1216096823_1107287121821_1948.jpg

[jyng1]

I think that's a Sea Shepard boat. They mounted a big can opener bowsprit thing on one of their boats last year. The skipper, Paul Watson is a bit eccentric.

http://www.seashepherd.org/

It's just scientific research... and McWhale burgers.

[Lurker]

This was awesome! My favorite is definitely the giant rat, mainly because I prefer mammals.

I bet he wouldn't even bite. Cute little guy. :happpy: