My Temple of Nature: Numerous Newbies

New species are being discovered all the time, especially in areas that have been lightly explored due to difficulty in getting there. Over 1200 new species have been discovered in the Amazon over the past decade. Over 120 new species were identified in the past few years in Borneo. More than 40 new species have been tagged in Papua New Guinea, along with 350 new species in the eastern Himalayas. I always think what a shame it would be if, because of habitat destruction and/or global warming, there would be some species that go extinct before we even know they existed. Here are just a few of the new species that have been discovered lately.

Case in point, a new species of titi monkey has been confirmed, found in Columbia's Amazon basin. It has already been recommended to be declared critically endangered as it is estimated that there are only about 250 individuals left. Named the Caqueta titi monkey because it was found in the Caqueta area of Columbia, this newbie is a total cutie.

Source: Wired.com

There are about 20 species of titi monkeys and they are the only primate species besides the gibbon that are monogamous. Titis main diet is fruit, with a few leaves, insects, and bird eggs thrown in.

There are about 600 species of crayfish, half of which are found north of Mexico. A new species of giant crayfish was discovered in Shoal Creek in southern Tennessee, proving you don't always have to travel to places unknown to find something new. 'Bearded' antennae distinguishes this crayfish along with its unusual size, almost as big as a lobster.

Barbicambarus simmonsi Photo by L. Brian Stauffer Source: University of Illinois

Two new species of herbivorous beetle have been found in New Caledonia. Also known as a 'flea' beetle, they use their leaping ability to avoid predators.

Arsipoda geographica and Arsipoda rostrata

Photo by Jesus Gomez-Zunta Source: Science Daily

Remember my post on slugs? This long-tailed slug is one of the new species found recently in Borneo. I never thought I would think a slug is pretty, but he definitely is.

Source: The Guardian

The spectacled flowerpecker was also among the Borneo discoveries. Flowerpeckers are mistletoe tree specialists.

Source: National Geographic

Meet Smith's litter frog, a newbie found in the Indian state of Assam.

Photo by Milivoje Krvavac, WWF Nepal Source: The Guardian

And, last but not least, using genetic evidence scientists have realized that the species known as the Egyptian jackal is actually a gray wolf, proving that wolves lived in Africa three million years before coming north.