Brazilian Amazon's 10 New Species
New Mammals Highlight Importance of Protecting Amazon Rainforest
Some are primate species unknown to scientists until the last 20 years. No one knows how much more biodiversity might be lost if deforestation of the Amazon continues.
A Dutch biologist, working in the Brazilian Amazon since 1986, has been responsible for finding 9 new mammal species and one new plant. With significant numbers of previously unidentified species being found in other South American and Asian countries, it is clear that knowledge of the wildlife of this planet is limited and that the value of these unknown species may be lost to mankind forever.
Many of the new species of mammals are primates. Dr. Marc van Roosmalen, the researcher, did his doctoral thesis on primates so he was quick to pick up on subtle differences in some of the animals he saw. The largely uninhabited land in this part of South America and lack of bushmeat trade in primates in South America has probably allowed these species to survive. Dr. van Roosmalen is working to save the biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest by identifying new species and determining their habitat needs.
The Marmosets
The Rio Acari Amazonian marmoset ( Mico (Callithrix) acariensis), the Rio Manicore Amazonian marmoset (Mico (Callithrix) manicorensis), the Satare Amazonian marmoset (Mico (Callithrix) aterei) and the black-crowned dwarf marmoset (Callibella humilis) each is new to science.
The black-crowned dwarf marmoset has also been determined to be a completely new genus, with an extremely small habitat in an area long uninhabited by humans. A major threat to the dwarf marmoset is the forest fires regularly set by nearby farmers to burn secondary growth in clearing fields.
The Titi Monkeys
Stephen Nash’s titi monkey (Callicebus stehpennashi) and HRH Prince Bernhard’s titi monkey (Callicebus bernhardi) make up the balance of primates discovered so far. Both species of titi monkey appear to do well near human habitation at the edges of the rainforest so concern is lower for them, although the construction of the Transamazonian Highway cuts through the habitat of the HRH Prince Bernhard’s titi monkey and how that will affect its population is unclear.
Giant Collared Peccary
The interesting thing about the Giant Collared Peccary (Pecari maximus) is that it appears to have diverged genetically from the other species of peccary over a million years ago. Its diet and life history reflects that difference. Some scientists, however, question whether this peccary is truly a distinct species or a separate subpopulation
Van Roosmalen’s Dwarf Porcupine
Found in 1996 the van Roosmalen’s Dwarf Porcupine (Coendou rooosmalenorum) is thought to be one of the smallest living members of the porcupine family. And biologists believe that more new species of rainforest porcupine are likely to exist. Unfortunately, activities such as hydroelectric dam building seem to be bringing them out in the open.
HRH Prince Bernhard’s Dwarf Manatee
This Dwarf manatee (Trichechus bernhardi) , locally known as pretinho (little black fellow), is only about 130cm or a little over four feet long. Divergence from the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) is thought to have occured over 400,000 years ago. As with the peccary, there is some suggestion that the animals are a distinct subpopulation and not a separate species.
A New Brazilnut
This tree (Lecythis oldemani) which Brazilians call Castanha rana may offer further clues as to migratory patterns of some of the mammals of the Amazon rainforest. Mammals are seed dispersers and thus have a key role in the plant makeup of this habitat.
While new species are being discovered every day around the world, few new mammals are found. So many new mammal species in one place tells a great deal about the richness of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. Most exciting is that Dr. Roosmalen believes that there are more mammal species to be found in the Amazon rainforest. Protecting the rainforest will be a step in the right direction to protecting world biodiversity.
