A rainfrog, an amphibious mouse, and a “blob-headed” fish are only some of the 27 new species discovered deep Peru’s Amazon rainforest. During a

27 new, exciting, and blobby species discovered in the Peruvian rainforest

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2024-12-24 01:30:15

A rainfrog, an amphibious mouse, and a “blob-headed” fish are only some of the 27 new species discovered deep Peru’s Amazon rainforest. During a survey in 2022, a team from Conservation International recorded 2,046 total species living in this lush and heavily forested landscape, many of whom are endangered.

The creatures were all found in the Alto Mayo Landscape which spans the Andes mountains to the Amazon River and includes the Alto Mayo Protected Forest. Instead of being one static environment, the Alto Mayo Landscape is a complex mix of different ecosystems and communities, including Indigenous territories, cities, and towns.

Of the 2,046 total species recorded, at least 34 of them appear to live only in the Alto Mayo. To document so many species, the scientists complemented their traditional survey methods with camera traps, bioacoustics sensors, and environmental DNA (eDNA) collected from the water.

Among the 151 mammals the team recorded, four are new to science. These include a spiny mouse, bat, squirrel, and a very rare amphibious mouse with webbed feet. At least 12 of these species are threatened with extinction.