Wild and Rare New Species Discovered in the Himalayas

The Biological Grandeur of the Eastern Himalayas

Himalayas, WWF Nepal, biodiversity, new species eastern himalayas

The Himalayas have yielded a \"treasure trove\" of new species -- 350 of them documented in just the past 10 years. But that amazing biodiversity is threatened by climate change, according to the World Wildlife Fund, or WWF as it is known internationally. While impressive, those new species only add to the staggering list of life known to inhabit the Eastern Himalayas: 10,000 species of plants, 300 mammals, 977 birds, 176 reptiles, 105 amphibians and 269 types of freshwater fish. That\'s all on top of its most \"charismatic\" species: Bengal tigers, greater one-horned rhinos, snow leopards, Asian elephants, red pandas, takins, golden langurs and Gangetic dolphins.

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The group has just published a new report about the issues facing this rich region, The Eastern Himalayas – Where Worlds Collide, an accounting of the newly discovered species in this remote and inhospitable (to humans, anyway) corner of the world. The rugged Eastern Himalayas stretch from Bhutan and northeast India to the far north of Myanmar, and through Nepal and the southern parts of Tibet, in China.

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\"This enormous cultural and biological diversity underscores the fragile nature of an environment which risks being lost forever unless the impacts of climate change are reversed,\" said Tariq Aziz, the leader of WWF\'s Living Himalayas Initiative. \"People and wildlife form a rich mosaic of life across this rugged and remarkable landscape, making it among the biologically richest areas on Earth. But the Himalayas are also among the most vulnerable to global climate change.\"

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What follows is a look into the biological diversity of the Himalayas, from the world\'s smallest deer to a 100-million-year old gecko.

Leaf Deer

leaf deer, himalayas, wwf nepal, biodiversity, new species leaf deer This leaf deer (Muntiacus putaoensis) found in 1999 in northern Burman (Myanmar) is believed to be the world’s smallest deer species, a miniature muntjac. Standing just over 2.5 feet at its tallest, it weighs just 25 pounds. Scientists initially believed the small creature found in the world’s largest mountain range was a juvenile of another species but DNA tests confirmed the light brown animal with innocent dark eyes was a distinct and new species.

Flying Frog

flying frog, frog, new species, himalayas, wwf nepal, biodiversity flying frog The flying frog (Rhacophorus suffry) is a bright green, red-footed tree frog that earned its name because its long webbed feet allow the species to glide when falling. It was first described by science in 2007.

Smith\'s Litter Frog

smiths litter frog, new species, biodiversity, himalayas, wwf nepal smiths litter frog Smith\'s litter frog (Leptobrachium smithi), identified in 1999, is one of five new frog discoveries in\r\nthe Indian state of Assam. WWF gushes: It \"must certainly rank among the most extraordinary-looking frogs in the world. Measuring only a few centimeters, this small frog has a giant pair of piercing, bulging and vivid golden eyes.\"

Arunachal Macaque

Arunachal macaque, new species, biodiversity, himalayas, wwf nepal arunachal macaque The Arunachal macaque (Macaca munzala) was first described in 2005, and represented (at the time) the first new monkey species identified anywhere in the world in over a century. The newly described macaque species is stocky and has a darker face than other closely related species. It is the highest-dwelling macaque in the world, occurring between 5,200 and 11,500 feet about sea level.

Cretacegekko Burmae Gecko

Cretacegekko burmae gecko, biodiversity, himalayas, wwf nepal, new species cretacegekko burmae gecko The Cretacegekko burmae gecko is a 100-million-year-old gecko, preserved in cretaceous amber. The fossil remains from the amber include a plethora of plant and invertebrate remains but vertebrate fossils are very rare. WWF calls this extinct species \"one of the most significant findings\" because it is the oldest fossil gecko species known to science. It was discovered in an amber mine in the Hukawng Valley in Himalayan regions of far northern Myanmar.

Liparis dongchenii orchid

Liparis dongchenii orchid, new species, wwf nepal, himalayas, biodiversity Liparis dongchenii orchid

Heterometrus Nepalensis Scorpion

Heterometrus nepalensis Scorpion, new species, wwf nepal, himalayas, biodiversity heterometrus nepalensis scorpion Among the new finds are three species of scorpion, one of which (Heterometrus nepalensis) was found in 2004 in the Chitwan National Park -- the first scorpion ever documented in Nepal. \r\nthree-inch long, reddish-black, scorpion has a smooth carapace, and a reddish-brown tail tip that contains the venom.

Meconopsis Tibetica Poppy

Meconopsis tibetica Poppy, new species, biodiversity, himalayas, wwf nepal meconopsis tibetica poppy Meconopsis tibetica, described in 2006, is one of 12 new poppy species discoveries in the Himalayas. A vast garden stretches across the Eastern Himalayas, a mysterious and alluring landscape that has yielded on average of 24 new plant discoveries every year for the last 10 years.

Zaw\'s Wolf Snake

new species, zaws wolf snake, himalayas, wwf nepal, biodiversity zaws wolf snake Zaw\'s wolf snake (Lycodon zawi) is a low-altitude forest-dweller found in Assam, India and in northern Burma (Myanmar). The black snake, with white bands, can grow to about 1.5 feet in length, and feeds mainly on geckos.

Calanthe Yuksomnensis

new species, Calanthe yuksomnensis, himalayas, wwf nepal, biodiversity calanthe yuksomnensis \r\n

Assamese Cascade Frog

Assamese cascade frog, himalayas, wwf nepal, new species, biodiversity assamese cascade frog Assamese cascade frog (Amolops assamensis) found in Assam. Cascade frogs or torrent frogs as they are also known as, have adapted to life amongst the torrents, waterfalls and wet boulders that cascade out of Asia’s rainforests.

Asian Babbler

Asian Babbler, Himalayas, WWF Nepal, new species, biodiversity asian babbler The Asian babbler (Liocichla bugunorum) predominantly inhabits open-canopied hill forests with dense shrubs and small trees, and so far is known to be restricted to a small area of just over one square mile at an altitude of between roughly 6,500 feet to 7,700 feet.

Coelogyne Pantlingii Orchid

Coelogyne pantlingii orchid, himalayas, wwf nepal, new species, biodiversity coelogyne pantlingii orchid This Coelogyne pantlingii orchid, a new species, was found in Sikkim, a remote province in Western India.

Erethistoides Ascita Fish

Erethistoides ascita fish, himalayas, wwf nepal, biodiversity, new species erethistoides ascita Erethistoides ascita, a new fish described in 2005 from the Ganges River drainage, in the terai of Nepal. The terai (\"foothills\" in Persian) is described by Wikipedia as \"a belt of marshy grasslands, savannas, and forests at the base of the Himalayas.\"

Impatiens Namchabarwensis

Impatiens namchabarwensis, new species, himalayas, wwf nepal, biodiversity impatiens namchabarwensis Impatiens namchabarwensis, named after the remote Tibet canyon in which it was found, can grow to nearly two feet in height, and flowers all year long. The color of this rare flower seems to change with temperature and sun exposure: Truly blue in cool climates, and purple in higher temperatures.

Orange-Spotted Snakehead

Orange-spotted snakehead, wwf nepal, himalayas, new species, biodiversity orange-spotted snakehead The orange-spotted snakehead (Channa aurantimaculata) is endemic to the forest streams, ponds and swamps adjacent to the Brahmaputra River in the subtropical rainforest of northern Assam, in western India. WWF describes the species as \"remarkably striking, with a vibrant pattern of purple and orange adorning the length of its body.\" Discovered in 2000, and measuring up to 16 inches, the fish is carnivorous and predatory, enjoying a diet of smaller fish and invertebrates.

Saramati Palm

Saramati Palm, wwf nepal, himalayas, new species, biodiversity saramati palm The Saramati palm (Trachycarpus ukhrulensis) is the most recent addition to the Trachycarpus genus, and the most interesting yet according to some scientists. The palm was discovered in Assam in western India, on the border with Burma (Myanmar). Growing to a height of 50 feet, the tree has a hairless trunk of nearly one foot in diameter.

Itagonia Cordiformis Beetle

Itagonia cordiformis beetle, wwf nepal, himalayas, new species, biodiversity itagonia cordiformis beetle

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