WWF: 52 new species discovered on Borneo [video link]

by Edmund Jenks | December 19, 2006 at 11:14 am
1351 views | 0 Recommendations | 1 comment

Photos

WWF: 52 new species discovered on Borneo [video link]

WWF: 52 new species discovered on Borneo [video link]

see larger image

uploaded by Edmund Jenks

GENEVA - Scientists have discovered at least 52 new species of animals and plants on the southeast Asian island of Borneo since 2005, including a catfish with protruding teeth and suction cups on its belly to help it stick to rocks, WWF International said Tuesday.

"The more we look the more we find," said Stuart Chapman, WWF International coordinator for the study of the "Heart of Borneo," a 85,000-square-mile rain forest in the center of the island where several of the new species were found. "These discoveries reaffirm Borneo's position as one of the most important centers of biodiversity in the world."

Much of Borneo, which is shared by Indonesia, Malaysia and the sultanate of Brunei, is covered by one of the world's last remaining rain forests.

The discoveries bring the total number of species newly identified on the island to more than 400 since 1996, according to WWF, known in North America as the World Wildlife Fund.

Advertisement
recommend This comment thread is now closed

This story was created over 3 months ago, the comment thread is now closed.

NowPublic on Facebook

What is NowPublic?

NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.

Find out more

Crowd Power

These members have powered this story:

Most Recommended Stories in Environment

 

closeSign in to NowPublic

is reporting from