Quotes of the Day

Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006

Open quoteVenturing deep into unexplored jungles, an expedition returns to civilization with news of astonishing unknown species and animals believed lost to history. No, it's not King Kong—last year's November-December expedition to Indonesia's remote Foja Mountains didn't include any movie stars, and the most amazing mammal they saw, the 15-kg Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo, would have a hard time wreaking havoc on Manhattan. But with claims to have discovered dozens of previously unreported species in a 10,000-sq-km expanse of virgin forest, the 11 American, Australian and Indonesian researchers may have found a biological blockbuster just the same. "Every decade there are more people, more roads, more human control over the earth," says expedition co-leader Bruce Beehler, of the environmental NGO Conservation International. "It's nice to know there are a few places we haven't got a grip on." Among their finds:

• Crown of Feathers
Previously known only from a century-old specimen—although a female was spotted in 1981—the male BERLEPSCH'S SIX-WIRED BIRD OF PARADISE, with six thin feathers protruding from his head, had never been seen by scientists in the wild

• Funny Face
A SMOKY HONEYEATER, with a bright orange patch on its face and a pendant wattle under each eye, is believed to be the first new bird found on the island of New Guinea since 1939

• Long-Lost Kin
While the endangered GOLDEN-MANTLED TREE KANGAROO is known to exist on a single mountain in neighboring Papua New Guinea, this was the first time it had been found in Indonesia. The explorers say the Indonesian population could prove critical to the survival of the species

• Big Bloomer
The flowers of this WHITE RHODODENDRON, which has not yet been identified, measure nearly 15 cm across—matching the largest of its kind on record

• Small Hop for Frogkind
The team found at least 20 frogs believed to be new to science, including a tiny MICROHYLID FROG measuring less than 14 mm longClose quote

  • Austin Ramzy
  • Discovering new species in Indonesia's untouched jungles
| Source: Discovering new species in Indonesia's untouched jungles