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British Scientists Discover a Natural Treasure Trove in Costa Rica
January 04, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Environmental Health
As many as 5000 plant and animal species, including three new types of salamander have been identified by scientists from London's Natural History Museum (NHM).
Two species are nocturnal, while the third is a dwarf variety, growing to little longer than a thumbnail.
The three new finds bring the number of Costa Rican salamanders known to science to a total of 43.
Salamanders eat insects and worms, and live in water or in moist areas. They usually feed at night and hide during the day, often hibernating during the winter.
Some 300 species are known around the world, mainly in the Northern Hemisphere, but there have been few new discoveries since 1998, when five new salamanders were found in tropical east-central Mexico.
The three new salamanders were found in La Amistad National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site on the Costa Rica-Panama border.
Two belong to the nocturnal Bolitoglossa genus; while the third, from the Nototriton (dwarf salamander) family, is a diminutive 3cm (1 inch) in length.
"Finding so many new species in one area is exciting, particularly as this is probably the only place in the world you can find these animals," said the NHM's Dr Alex Monro, who is leading the project.
"It shows we still have a lot to learn about the variety of wildlife in this region. We have four more expeditions planned this year - who knows what we could find when we go back?"
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