Posted on 09/07/2009 11:36:01 AM PDT by NYer
A lost world populated by fanged frogs, grunting fish and tiny bear-like creatures has been discovered in a remote volcanic crater on the Pacific island of Papua New Guinea.
A team of scientists from Britain, the United States and Papua New Guinea found more than 40 previously unidentified species when they climbed into the kilometre-deep crater of Mount Bosavi and explored a pristine jungle habitat teeming with life that has evolved in isolation since the volcano last erupted 200,000 years ago. In a remarkably rich haul from just five weeks of exploration, the biologists discovered 16 frogs which have never before been recorded by science, at least three new fish, a new bat and a giant rat, which may turn out to be the biggest in the world.
The discoveries are being seen as fresh evidence of the richness of the world's rainforests and the explorers hope their finds will add weight to calls for international action to prevent the demise of similar ecosystems. They said Papua New Guinea's rainforest is currently being destroyed at the rate of 3.5% a year.
"It was mind-blowing to be there and it is clearly time we pulled our finger out and decided these habitats are worth us saving," said Dr George McGavin who headed the expedition.
The team of biologists included experts from Oxford University, the London Zoo and the Smithsonian Institution and are believed to be the first scientists to enter the mountainous Bosavi crater. They were joined by members of the BBC Natural History Unit which filmed the expedition for a three-part documentary which starts tomorrow night.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
I saw that movie with a date that accidentally ate lobster she was allergic to at dinner shortly before, so her skin was itchy to begin with.
No, giant RATs have been observed living in Congress and the blue states for decades.
"...it is clearly time we pulled our finger out..." said Dr George McGavin who headed the expedition.
Exactly what did he mean by that?
ping
Saw La Valle in ‘77 (I think? in Northern CA) in my, um, wilder days :)
I saw a bootleg video of the movie at a card show a few years ago... apparently it is only available in Europe? I remember I was surprised at the rating (X maybe?).
I would not argue that they were previously unknown varieties of frogs, fish, bats, and rats. And as far as I know it would be technically proper to call them different species, although this layman usually thinks at least of frogs, bats, and rats as a single species. I just noted that the species were indeed identified, some as a type of frog, some as a type of fish, one as a type of bat, and one as a type of rat.
A really unidentified species would be more interesting. Of which somone might say: "Wow, what is that thing? We are going to have to think of a new name. Its certainly not a frog or a fish or a rat or a bat."
Now, about that carbon cycle.
I wonder how they did with the insects, if they were even sampling them.
SF
They should send Andrew Zimmern...he'll eat anything...Hey Mikey!
Huh. I thought cuscus was some vegetarian crap. Now that I know its made out of meat....
I spent some time in Iryan Jaya - the west half of New Guinea. Have a photo of my co-worker holding a worm that is about 1/2 thick and 18 inches long. Always wondered if that was something “undiscovered”.
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