http://www.theage.com.au/world/fanged-frogs-among-40-new-species-in-png-crater-20090907-fece.html
QuoteA LOST world populated by fanged frogs, grunting fish and tiny bear-like creatures has been discovered in a remote volcanic crater on Papua New Guinea.
A team of scientists from Britain, the US, Hawaii and Papua New Guinea found more than 40 previously unidentified species when they climbed into the kilometre-deep crater of Mount Bosavi and explored a pristine jungle habitat teeming with life that has evolved in isolation since the volcano last erupted 200,000 years ago.
In a remarkable haul from just five weeks of exploration, the biologists discovered 16 frogs never before recorded by science, at least three new fish, a new bat and a giant rat that may turn out to be the biggest in the world.
The discoveries are being seen as fresh evidence of the richness of the world's rainforests and the explorers hope their finds will add weight to calls for international action to prevent the demise of similar ecosystems. They said Papua New Guinea's rainforest was being destroyed at the rate of 3.5 per cent a year.
''It was mind-blowing to be there and it is clearly time we pulled our finger out and decided these habitats are worth us saving,'' said Dr George McGavin, who headed the expedition.
The biologists included experts from Oxford University, the London Zoo and the Smithsonian Institution and are believed to be the first scientists to enter the Bosavi crater. They were joined by members of the BBC Natural History Unit, which filmed the expedition for a three-part documentary.
They found the three-kilometre-wide crater populated by spectacular birds of paradise; and in the absence of big cats and monkeys, which are found in the remote jungles of the Amazon and Sumatra, the main predators are giant monitor lizards while kangaroos have evolved to live in trees.
New species include a camouflaged gecko, a fanged frog and a fish called the Henamo Grunter, named because it makes grunting noises from its swim bladder.
''These discoveries are really significant,'' said Steve Backshall, a climber and naturalist who became so friendly with the never-before seen Bosavi Silky Cucus - a marsupial that lives in trees and feeds on fruits and leaves - that it sat on his shoulder.
''The world is getting an awful lot smaller and it is getting very hard to find places that are so far off the beaten track.''
Fanged frogs sound like the best thing ever, don't you agree?
The creators of Pok?mon are relieved.
That's a big ass rat.
Quote from: Tsumaru on September 15, 2009, 03:22:03 PM
That's a big ass rat.
How big is it?
Someone get me a decent reference.
News stories without some actual discussion fall under Link Only. Although I'll further elaborate on that.
Read, please. (http://www.nsfcd.com/forums/index.php?topic=17439.0)
Quote from: Rhadamanthus on September 15, 2009, 03:59:41 PM
News stories without some actual discussion fall under Link Only. Although I'll further elaborate on that.
Read, please. (http://www.nsfcd.com/forums/index.php?topic=17439.0)
overruled
i mean intercourse , it's fanged frogs
Quote from: Tortilla on September 15, 2009, 04:22:24 PM
overruled
i mean intercourse , it's fanged frogs
Seriously. It doesn't get more badass than this.
Quote from: Rhadamanthus on September 15, 2009, 03:59:41 PM
News stories without some actual discussion fall under Link Only. Although I'll further elaborate on that.
Read, please. (http://www.nsfcd.com/forums/index.php?topic=17439.0)
intercourse you and your lack of appreciation for fanged frogs
Quote from: Tortilla on September 15, 2009, 04:22:24 PM
overruled
i mean intercourse , it's fanged frogs
You don't get to overrule me. In the future, pm me with a reason you are vetoing one of my decisions. It'd be appreciated.
As such, this goes against the Power On Board Rule #1; Doodle was punished for doing just this. So it's either fair for all, or fair for none.
dat rat
It's huge.
Quote from: Rhadamanthus on September 16, 2009, 12:45:26 AM
You don't get to overrule me. In the future, pm me with a reason you are vetoing one of my decisions. It'd be appreciated.
As such, this goes against the Power On Board Rule #1; Doodle was punished for doing just this. So it's either fair for all, or fair for none.
Whoa, man. Calm down. It's just Power On. No need for punishments for making a topic about frogs with fangs. I'm just glad it isn't "What is your favorite _____?", "When do you _______?", or "Have you ever ______?"
Someone get me a reference of how big the rat is. I'm dying to know. ;-; uguuu~