Amazing Discoveries In The Amazon: New Species Found Every 3 Days Over Last Decade
Between 1999 and 2009, more than 1,200
new species of plants and vertebrates were discovered in
the Amazon biome –
or one new species every 3 days – confirming the Amazon as one of the most diverse places on Earth, says a WWF report.
“This report clearly shows the incredible diversity of life in the Amazon”, said Francisco Ruiz, Leader of WWF’s Living Amazon Initiative. It also serves as a reminder of how much we still have to learn about this unique region, and what we could lose if we don’t change the way we think about development, and promote conservation at a regional level that provides economic, social, and environmental benefits to people in the region and those within the Amazon’s far-reaching climatic influence, added Ruiz.
The new species outlined in “Amazon Alive!: A Decade of Discoveries 1999-2009” include 637 plants, 257 fish, 216 amphibians, 55 reptiles, 16 birds and 39 mammals.
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