A species bonanza from Borneo
Scientist have discovered at least 52 new species of animals and plants on the Southest Asian Island of Borneo. WWF International said on Tuesday that the new discoveries made between July 2005 and September 2006,include 30 fish species two tree frogs and plants species. One of the fish species is a miniature, the world's second-smallest vertebrate.
Among the creatures that were new to science were six Siemense fighting fish, whose unique colours and markings distinguish them from close relatives, and a catfish with protruding teeth and an adhesive belly with miniature suction caps enabling it to stick to smooth stones and maintain its position facing into the current of Indonesia's turbulent Kapus river system. The catifish, which can be identified by its colour pattern is named-a reference to the teeth that can be seen ever when its mouth is closed.
While those species where spotted in Indonesian waters, the 8.8mm-long Paedocypris micromegethes was discovered in Malaysia's back water streams and peat swamp forests. The creature, which gets it name from the Greek words for children and small in size, is tiner than all other vertebrae species except for its slightly more minuscule cousin, a 7.9mm fish found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra,according to WWF.
(The Hindu 20/12/06)
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