Almost new species discovered in the Amazon Forest in just two years

The Amazon is undoubtedly one of the richest regions in biodiversity on our planet . This statement is reinforced by the constant discovery of new species of animals and plants in the habitats of this immense basin.

The international conservation organization WWF and the Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development have published on August 30 a new study, New Species of Vertebrates and Plants in the Amazon 2014-2015 , in which the discovery in this period of only two years is detailed. out of a total of 381 species. Among the species so far unknown to scientists are 216 plants, 93 fish, 32 amphibians, 20 mammals (2 fossils), 19 reptiles and 1 bird.

The 2014-2015 balance indicates that, on average, 190 species were discovered per year in this period, a rate significantly higher than that accumulated in the 1999-2009 balance sheets, which was 111 new species per year) and 2010-2013 , when an average of 147 new species was reached per year.

Ricardo Mello, coordinator of the Amazon Program of WWF-Brazil, affirms that life within this biome continues to be a great enigma: “We are in 2017, verifying the existence of new species and although resources are scarce, we are seeing an immense variety and richness of biodiversity. This is a sign that we still have a lot to learn about the Amazon region. "

The coordinator of the Amazon Program of WWF-Brazil also highlights that the figures now presented “should force those who make decisions about the territory and the environment - both public and private, to think about the irreversible impacts caused by large projects. scale like highways and hydroelectric plants in the Amazon ”.

The report by WWF and the Mamirauá Institute comes a week after the Brazilian government approved a decree allowing mining in the National Reserve of Cobre y Asociados (Renca), a huge protected area the size of Switzerland that encompasses nine protected areas. . WWF recalls that opening up protected forest areas for deforestation and mining could be disastrous for wildlife and local cultures and indigenous communities.

João Valsecchi do Amaral, technical and scientific director of the Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development, highlights that the new knowledge contributed by this report will help identify areas or species that are changing pressures, monitor this biodiversity and establish new conservation strategies.

"For the conservation of species it is necessary to know what they are, how many there are and what their distribution is, which are key details to ensure that ecological and evolutionary processes are understood and maintained to ensure the survival of the species", indicates Valsecchi do Amaral .

Most of the discoveries now compiled by this study were the result of observations and review of collections made along major rivers, near major cities, and in the few most frequently studied protected areas. In this sense, experts recognize that it must be assumed that there are still thousands of species unknown to science in the vast Amazonian regions that have not yet been studied in detail.

These are some of the species that are included in the report :

Araguaia river dolphin or pink river dolphin ( Inia araguaiaensis ). It is estimated that there is a population of around 1,000 individuals, the species is threatened by the construction of hydroelectric dams and by industrial, agricultural and livestock activities. The pink river dolphins are an important part of the local culture around the Amazon, with a number of myths and legends surrounding them.

Fire-tailed titi monkey ( Plectrocebus miltoni ). This striking southern Amazon monkey gets its name from its long bright orange tail. The species is threatened by deforestation.

Chico's Tyrannulet ( Zimmerius chicomendesi ).  Discovered after its song caught the attention of experts, the name of this bird is a tribute to the rubber tapper and environmentalist Francisco Alves Mendes Filho, better known as Chico Mendes; assassinated in 1988.

Hypocnemis rondoni . Bird named after the famous anthropologist and explorer Marechal Cândido Rondón, found in southern Amazonas.

Rapazinho Striado do Oeste (Nystalus obamai). A bird that bears the scientific name in honor of former US President Barack Obama, a species now known to be found in a huge area between Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador.