New species discovered in Ecuador
A snail sucking snake and a miniature gecko are among discoveries by a team of scientists in Ecuador's rainforest
Suzanne Goldenberg guardian.co.uk,
Friday 15 January 2010
A team of scientists working in a threatened rain forest in Ecuador have discovered a species of snail sucking snake, 30 varieties of frog, and a gecko so small it can perch on top of a pencil, left.
But the finds come from an area which is being rapidly deforested and the animals could soon become extinct.
About 95% of the trees around Cerro Pata de Pájaro – the area of rain and cloud forest in the west of the country where the species were discovered – have been felled for farming, said Paul Hamilton who led the expedition for Reptile & Amphibian Ecology International.
In the remaining forest cover, he said the scientists had come across several important discoveries. Each mountaintop in the region is its own microhabitat, with its own variety of frog, lizard, and other small animal. "In this part of Ecuador, if you go to one spot you can find 20 or 30 species of frog, and if you go to the next site over you will see a whole bunch of different ones," said Hamilton.
More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/15/ecuador-new-species-discovered
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