“A sneezing monkey, a walking fish and a jewel-like snake are just some of a biological treasure trove of over 200 new species discovered in the Eastern Himalayas in recent years,” reports the World Wildlife Foundation today.
![A new pitviper emblazoned with an ornate pattern. [Liang Zhang]](https://i0.wp.com/boingboing.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/protobothrops_himalayansus__pitviper__liang_zhang_2.jpg?resize=970%2C633)
A new pitviper emblazoned with an ornate pattern. [Liang Zhang]
The release of the new WWF report, “Hidden Himalayas: Asia’s Wonderland” [PDF Link] was timed to coincide with World Habitat Day. The findings map out many newly-found species identified by scientists from a number of organizations. Among the discoveries: 133 plants, 39 invertebrates, 26 fish, 10 amphibians, one reptile, one bird and one mammal.
![The blue walking snakehead fish can survive out of water up to 4 days. [Henning Strack Hansen]](https://i0.wp.com/boingboing.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/vibrant_blue_walking_snakehead_fish_henning_strack_hansen.jpg?resize=970%2C647)
The blue walking snakehead fish can survive out of water up to 4 days. [Henning Strack Hansen]
You can read the full report here. Here’s a snip from the WWF’s announcement today:
The volume and diversity of discoveries, 211 in total between 2009 and 2014, highlight the region as one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth; the discoveries listed equating to an average of 34 new species discovered annually for the past six years.
“I am excited that the region – home to a staggering number of species including some of the most charismatic fauna – continues to surprise the world with the nature and pace of species discovery,” said Ravi Singh, CEO of WWF-India and Chair of the WWF Living Himalayas Initiative.
Some of the most striking discoveries include a vibrant blue dwarf ‘walking’ snakehead fish, which can breathe atmospheric air and survive on land for up to four days, although moving in a manner much clumsier than a slithering snake. The report details an unfortunate monkey whose upturned nose leads to a sneeze every time the rain falls, and a living gem – the bejeweled lance-headed pit viper, which could pass as a carefully crafted piece of jewellery.
The report also underscores the dire threats facing the vibrant ecosystems across a region spanning Bhutan, north-east India, Nepal, north Myanmar and the southern parts of Tibet. The report found that as a consequence of development, only 25% of the original habitats in the region remain intact and hundreds of species that live in the Eastern Himalayas are considered globally threatened.
The region is currently facing a wide range of threats and pressures, with climate change by far the most serious. Population growth, deforestation, overgrazing, poaching, the wildlife trade, mining, pollution and hydropower development have all contributed to the pressures on the fragile ecosystems in the region, the report says.
“The challenge is to preserve our threatened ecosystems before these species, and others yet unknown are lost,” said Sami Tornikoski leader of the WWF Living Himalayas Initiative.
Report: “HIDDEN HIMALAYAS: ASIA’S WONDERLAND New species discoveries in the Eastern Himalayas, Volume II 2009-2014” [PDF]
