Scientists discover 52 new species on the island of Borneo
Over the last 17 months, scientists have identified 52 new plant and animal species in the rainforests of Borneo, a Southeast Asian island, the World Wildlife Fund announced yesterday. The finds include 30 unique species of fish, two tree-frog species, three new trees, a plant that grows only a single large leaf, 16 types of ginger, and a partridge in a pear tree. The world's second-smallest vertebrate -- a fish 0.35 inches long -- was discovered, as well as a catfish with an adhesive belly and protruding teeth. (Alas, the legendary Wild Man remains elusive.) No wonder Charles Dickens described Borneo as a "great wild untidy luxuriant hothouse made by Nature for herself." As always, the diverse habitat is threatened by human activity; only half of Borneo's original forest cover remains, thanks to deforestation for rubber, palm oil, and paper pulp production. And we had been so optimistic there for a moment.
source: Bloomberg News Service, Ed Johnson, 19 Dec 2006
source: Reuters, Ed Davies, 19 Dec 2006
source: The Times, Lewis Smith and Lucy Alexander, 19 Dec 2006
source: Houston Chronicle, Associated Press, Eliane Engeler, 18 Dec 2006
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