Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Brazil: new species of monkey discovered is in danger of extinction

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A team of Brazilian biologists, working inside the country's Centre, has discovered what is believed to be a new species of primate. The animal, never seen before, was discovered on the southern edge of the Amazon rainforest and confirms a theory that scientists have long suspected: there are hundreds of new species of animals and plants by documenting in the region.

According to the researchers at the University of Mato Grosso, the new species likely to monkey, which belongs to the genus Pithecia, writes the Dodo, was spotted three times in a fragmented forest area too little explored until now. Multicolor staining only of the animal has never been observed in any monkey of this genus, which scientists believe could be a new species. However, genetic tests will be needed to prove that it is a a new monkey species.

"We sent the first images to an expert, but everything indicates that this is a new species. The characteristics are very different, "says Manoel dos Santos Filho, one of the biologists that integrates team.

Although it is not know next to nothing about this new animal all odds indicate to what is already in danger of extinction, such as the bulk of the Amazon flora and fauna. As biologists, the region where it was found the animal is among the more have suffered from deforestation and only 15% of the original forestation remains today.

All years are identified hundreds of new species of animals and plants in the Amazon rainforest. At the same time, there are hundreds of species which will cease to exist without ever having been documented. According to statistics, the Amazon loses annually between 0.2% to 0.3% of their species.

Photo: Almério C. Gusmão/Unemat

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