Report: The search continues
Posted on December, 19 2006
A report describing at least 52 new species of animals and plants that have been identified this past year on the island of Borneo.
At least 52 new species of animals and plants have been identified this past year on the island of Borneo, according to scientists.The discoveries, described in a report compiled by WWF, include 30 unique fish species, two tree frog species, 16 ginger species, three tree species and one large-leafed plant species.
Many of these creatures new to science are amazing: a miniature fish – the world’s second smallest vertebrate, measuring less than one centimetre in length and found in the highly acidic blackwater peat swamps of the island; six Siamese fighting fish, including one species with a beautiful iridescent blue-green marking; a catfish with protruding teeth and an adhesive belly which allows it to literally stick to rocks; and a tree frog with striking bright green eyes.
Several of these new species were found in the “Heart of Borneo”, a 220,000km2 mountainous region covered with equatorial rainforest in the centre of the island.
This tree frog, Polypedates chlorophthalmus, is one of the species new to science in Borneo.
© © Dr Indraneil Das
This tree frog, Polypedates chlorophthalmus, is one of the species new to science in Borneo.
© © Dr Indraneil Das