60 new animal species discovered in Suriname

This video says about itself:

Jan 24, 2012

Conservation International‘s Rapid Assessment Program’s (RAP) most recent expedition took place in one of the world’s last pristine tropical forests revealing incredibly diverse species and extraordinary cultural heritage. RAP experts discuss their findings during the three-week survey of southwest Suriname.

Translated from ANP news agency in the Netherlands:

60 new species discovered in Suriname

Tuesday, August 20, 2013 17:05

Scientists have discovered 60 new species during a special expedition in southeastern Suriname. They found previously unrecorded species of frogs, beetles, grasshoppers, fish and a snake. Nature organization Conservation International Suriname said this on Tuesday.

Not final

Also, many ‘new’ ants were found, but the scientists have not yet determined definitively whether these really are new species.

Untouched

The discoveries were made in the southeast of Suriname, in the basin of the Upper Palumeu river, not far from the border with Brazil. According to the researchers, the area is one of the last untouched rainforests on earth.

Unique

Leeanne Alonso, scientific director of the research, is very enthusiastic about the results. In a similar survey in southwest Suriname some years ago, 40 new species were discovered. The results now are 1.5 times as big. ,,I have been in many areas throughout the world, but such a large pristine area like this is really unique,” said Alonso during the presentation. That a lot of beetle species were found is an indication of the great diversity of mammals living in the area, she explained. Different species of beetles eat feces of several species of mammals.

Mercury

Yet there is also concern arising from the research. In the water and fish relatively high concentrations of mercury were found. This is striking because there is no activity in this region where mercury is used. Possibly this is related to the use of mercury in small-scale gold mining elsewhere in Suriname.

From Conservation International:

Kwamalasamutu Expedition

The goal of this expedition was to bring together the knowledge and expertise of local people with scientific knowledge to study and plan for monitoring of biological and cultural resources of the Kwamalasamutu region.

Suriname, August-September 2010

The Kwamalasamutu expedition, an initiative of CI’s long-standing Rapid Assessment Program (RAP), was a three-week survey to explore three remote sites along the Kutari and Sipaliwini Rivers near the village of Kwamalasumutu from August to September 2010.

The purpose of this RAP survey was to establish a baseline of information for local ecotourism and future monitoring efforts, focusing on Werehpai and the surrounding region. We also sought to gather information on plant and animal species important to the Trio people, and provide recommendations for sustainable harvest and management practices.

The overall goal was to bring together the knowledge and expertise of local people with scientific knowledge to study and plan for monitoring of biological and cultural resources of the Kwamalasamutu region. …

Major Results

Preliminary number of (morpho) species found in each group
(number of new or possibly new species in parentheses):

Plants: 240
Ants: 100
Aquatic Beetles: 144 (16-26)
Dung Beetles: 94 (10-14)
Katydids and Grasshoppers: 78 (7)
Dragonflies and Damselflies: 94 (4)
Fishes: 99 (8)
Reptiles and Amphibians: 78 (1)
Birds: 327
Small Mammals: 38
Medium/Large Mammals: 29

= 1,321 species, 46-60 new to science

New distributional records for Suriname from most taxonomic groups:

Plants: 8
Aquatic Beetles: 45
Dung Beetles: 5
Dragonflies and Damselflies: 14
Katydids and Grasshoppers: 29
Fishes: 2
Reptiles and Amphibians: 2
Birds: 4
Small Mammals: 2

15 species of plants and animals listed on IUCN Red List