A scientific expedition carried out in the Alto Mayo forest, a region of great biodiversity in the Peruvian Amazon influenced by human activities, revealed the discovery of 27 new species. Among the findings stand out an amphibious mouse, a bulging-headed fish, and a climbing salamander, as reported by Conservation International.
The amphibious mouse represents a rarity, as finding new mammals is uncommon, detailed the organization. Additionally, the function of the characteristic bulging head of the newly discovered fish remains a mystery.
Furthermore, the expedition documented four new mammals, a bat, a squirrel, a spiny mouse, and the amphibious mouse; eight new fish, including the bulging-headed fish, three amphibians, a rain frog, a narrow-mouthed frog, and the climbing salamander; and twelve insects, among them 10 butterflies and 2 beetles.
In addition to these unprecedented species, the scientists recorded more than 2,000 species in total, highlighting the importance of preserving this unique region.
Biodiversity and new species in the Peruvian Amazon
The Alto Mayo landscape encompasses ecosystems ranging from the Andes to the Amazon, including indigenous communities, towns, and cities. Despite its high population density, this region continues to host a rich biological diversity.
The director of the Rapid Assessment Program at Conservation International, Trond Larsen, described the discovery of four new mammals in an area with significant human activity as “extraordinary.” Larsen emphasized the importance of maintaining and restoring these ecosystems to protect the species that inhabit them.
Challenges and Opportunities
During the 38-day expedition, the following were documented:
- 536 bird species, with 26 in danger of extinction.
- 10 threatened plants, including rare orchids.
- 49 species classified as threatened by the IUCN Red List, including two critically endangered primates and various birds and amphibians.
The team utilized innovative technologies such as camera traps, bioacoustic sensors, and environmental DNA analysis to complement traditional study methods.
New species discovered in the Peruvian Amazon.
Future of Conservation
The results reinforce the need to sustainably manage the ecosystems of Alto Mayo. Larsen pointed out that this region holds great potential for sustainable activities such as ecotourism, selective agriculture, and resource collection, which could contribute to the protection of local biodiversity.
Additionally, the Awajún indigenous communities actively participated in the expedition, providing their traditional knowledge to support the scientific findings. The research continues, with 48 additional species in the process of confirmation as potential new discoveries for science.
The Importance of Indigenous Communities for the Amazon
According to the international nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental conservation, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), indigenous communities are a fundamental part in 80% of the conservation of spaces like the Peruvian Amazon. Through their ancestral practices, these groups have contributed to the protection of the planet’s biodiversity and the forests they inhabit, providing 1/3 of the solution to climate change.
In the Amazon region, more than half of the forests are inhabited by indigenous communities, who protect wildlife and reduce threats such as deforestation. In the forests of the Amazonian indigenous reserves, more than 40% of the country’s forest carbon and 60% of that stored in the forests of the Colombian Amazon are stored.
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