Global News - April 2008

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New and rare species seen in remote area of Brazil

Wed 30 April 2008 14:00 UK — South America,Other

A total of 14 new species have been discovered in a remote area of Brazil.

International conservationists worked with Brazilian universities to investigate biodiversity in the Cerrado region of the country.

The team identified eight previously unknown species of fish, two species of reptiles, a miniature woodpecker, a horned toad and a fat-tailed mouse opossum.

What's more, the team reported that they saw a number of species that are known to be in danger of extinction during their expedition. These include the hyacinth macaw, marsh deer, the three-banded armadillo, the dwarf tinamou and the Brazilian merganser.

"The geographic distribution of some of the species registered is restricted to the area of the ecological station; thus their survival depends on the good management of the protected area and its immediate surroundings," explained Luis Fabio Silveira, of the University of Sao Paulo.

"From the survey we can obtain data concerning the anatomy, reproductive biology, life cycle, and distribution of the species, all of which help us in future conservation programs."

However, the researchers also warned that the area was increasingly threatened by agricultural development.

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