- #1
- 7,220
- 24
An international team of scientists says it has found a "lost world" in the Indonesian jungle that is home to dozens of new animal and plant species.
"It's as close to the Garden of Eden as you're going to find on Earth," said Bruce Beehler, co-leader of the group.
...
On only the second day of the team's expedition, the amazed scientists watched as a male Berlepsch's bird of paradise performed a mating dance for an attending female in the field camp.
It was the first time a live male of the species had been observed by Western scientists, and proved that the Foja Mountains was the species' true home.
"This bird had been filed away and forgotten; it had been lost. To rediscover it was, for me, in some ways, more exciting than finding the honeyeater. I spent 20 years working on birds of paradise; they're pretty darn sexy beasts," Dr Beehler enthused.
...
A summary of the team's main discoveries:
* A new species of honeyeater, the first new bird species discovered on the island of New Guinea since 1939
* The formerly unknown breeding grounds of a "lost" bird of paradise - the six-wired bird of paradise (Parotia berlepschi)
* First photographs of the golden-fronted bowerbird displaying at its bower.
* A new large mammal for Indonesia, the golden-mantled tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus pulcherrimus)
* More than 20 new species of frogs, including a tiny microhylid frog less than 14mm long
* A series of previously undescribed plant species, including five new species of palms
* A remarkable white-flowered rhododendron with flower about 15cm across
* Four new butterfly species.
The "Lost World" discovered in the Indonesian Jungle refers to a remote and unexplored region in the island of New Guinea, known as the Foja Mountains. This area is home to a diverse range of plant and animal species, many of which were previously unknown to scientists.
The "Lost World" was discovered in 2005 by a team of scientists from Conservation International and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, during a biodiversity survey in the Foja Mountains. The team used a combination of satellite imagery, aerial surveys, and ground expeditions to uncover this hidden and isolated region.
The "Lost World" is considered unique due to its isolation and lack of human disturbance. This has allowed for the preservation of a vast array of species, including new species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and plants. It is also home to some of the last remaining intact tropical forests on the planet.
Since its discovery, the "Lost World" has yielded numerous new species, including a new species of honeyeater bird, a new species of tree kangaroo, and the world's smallest wallaby. Scientists have also found evidence of new plant species, as well as several species that were previously thought to be extinct.
The discovery of the "Lost World" has significant implications for conservation efforts and our understanding of biodiversity. It highlights the importance of protecting remote and isolated areas, as they may harbor unique and undiscovered species. It also emphasizes the need for further exploration and research in these regions to better understand and protect our planet's biodiversity.