Twenty-seven new species were discovered in the Amazon forests of Peru during 2022 Scientific expeditionEnvironmental NPO Conservation International declared.
Among the newly discovered species were an “amphibious mouse” with partially webbed feet, a spiny mouse, a dwarf squirrel, eight types of fish, three amphibians and ten butterflies. The researchers also identified another 48 potentially new species that require further study.
The expedition, which took place between June and July, took place in Alto Mayo, a protected area that includes diverse ecosystems, localities and villages. A team of 13 scientists collaborated with local technicians and local group members.
“To discover many New species of mammals And the vertebrates were really incredible, especially in human-impacted landscapes like the Alto Mayo, Trond Larsen, head of Conservation International’s rapid assessment program, told Reuters.
He highlighted Spiny Mouse. The amphibious mouseand a 5.5-inch dwarf squirrel. “(The squirrel) fits so easily in the palm of your hand. Charming and beautiful chestnut brown color, very sharp,” Larsen said. “It jumped quickly and hid in the trees.” He also noted a “blob-headed fish,” a type of armored catfish, among the discoveries.
The 38-day campaign used camera traps, bioacoustic sensors and DNA sampling. In total, 2,046 species were recorded, including 49 classified as threatened, such as the yellow-tailed woolly monkey and tree monkey.
According to Larson, these results underscored the importance of protecting the area. “Unless steps were taken to protect these sites and help restore parts of the landscape… there was a strong possibility that they would not survive in the long term,” Larsen said. Larson said.