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Old October 23rd, 2013 #89
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PURRING monkeys and a vegetarian piranha: Never-before-seen pictures of new animal species discovered in the Amazon

In the Amazon, a soft purr from the trees often signals danger ahead.

But it is not only south American jungle cats - or our own domestic moggies - who make the distinct sound.

Conservationists were surprised to discover a new species of monkey which purred when contented.

More than 400 new types of animals and plants have been found by scientists venturing into rarely explored parts of the Amazon rainforest, and compiled by WWF.




The purring monkey is one of the incredible new species that scientists found in the depths of the South American jungle


Other never-before-seen species include a flame-patterned lizard that is incredibly shy, and an unusual piranha that does not like the taste of flesh.


‘With an average of two new species identified every week for the past four years, it’s clear that the extraordinary Amazon remains one of the most important centres of global biodiversity,’ said Damian Fleming, head of programmes for Brazil and the Amazon at WWF.

‘The more scientists look, the more they find.

‘The richness of the Amazon’s forests and freshwater habitats continues to amaze the world. But these same habitats are also under growing threat.




This flame-patterned lizard is an incredibly shy creature that is one of 440 species scientists have discovered




Many of the newly-found wildlife are only limited to small parts of the Amazon


'The discovery of these new species reaffirms the importance of stepping up commitments to conserve and sustainably manage the unique biodiversity and also the goods and services provided by the rainforests to the people and businesses of the region.’

Many of the newly-found wildlife are only limited to small parts of the Amazon, making them vulnerable to any habitat changes.

Currently, sections of rainforest the size of three-football pitches are being lost every minute to logging, agriculture and farming.

The red-bearded Caqueta titi monkey is already considered critically endangered, with a known range of only 60 miles.




Teeny! This 'thimble frog' has certainly earned its name, as it is only the size of a thumbnail




Sections of rainforest the size of three-football pitches are being lost every minute - threatening Amazonian species


One of about 20 species of titi monkey, which all live in the Amazon basin, the babies have an endearing trait.

‘When they feel very content they purr towards each other,’ said scientist Thomas Defler, who helped discover the species.

Other discoveries include a ‘thimble frog’, which is the size of a thumbnail.
It is also under serious threat, and its Latin name - Allobates amissibilis - means ‘that may be lost’ because it thrives in an area that could soon be opened to tourism.

And living within rocky rapids in the Brazilian jungle is a newly-found vegetarian piranha, which eats river weeds as its main source of food.

WWF is working towards preserving the Amazon’s biodiversity. As part of Sky Rainforest Rescue, the charity is helping to save one billion trees in the Brazilian state of Acre, by making the trees worth more standing than cut down.

Never-before-seen pictures of new animal species discovered in the Amazon | Mail Online