PNG crater yields plethora of new species

In a remarkably rich haul from just five weeks of exploration, the biologists discovered 16 frogs which have never before been recorded by science, at least three new fish, a new bat and a giant rat, which may turn out to be the biggest in the world.

Story here.

Hat tip: Ana

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Must remember to watch that tonight. Its forebear - Lost Land of the Jaguars - wasn't great but had some good moments.

What I really hope that they find is an "out group" species.

We know the tuatara is quite unlike lizards and is probably more basal. It's like a small dinosaur outgroup surviving till today

Now it would be really cool to find and outgroup to amphibians. Like a non lissamphibian. Oh wow if we found that it would tell us an enormous amount.

The poor rat doesn't have a fear of humans; how long before the creature is hunted to extinction to provide food? Same for the bats - bat with coconut milk and taro root is popular on many Pacific islands.

By MadScientist (not verified) on 07 Sep 2009 #permalink

Really, a plethora? At what point does it go from lots to too many? Does somebody think there are too many species in Papua New Guinea, and something should be done about that? Or does somebody just not know what "plethora" means? Maybe somebody got the word from watching "The Three Amigos" and never looked it up.

By Nathan Myers (not verified) on 07 Sep 2009 #permalink

Nathan, you ignorant dit. I have a question for you. In real life, do you have any friends?

Of courses there are not "too many" species. But there is, overall, a lot of irony in titles and headlines, across the board. Have you not noticed this? Perhaps there is a plethora of such headlines.

What is "The Three Amigos"? No, don't tell me. Just go away.

In Spanish-speaking resturants, some dishes are characterized as "rebosado" meaning they contain a plethora of yummy stuffings.

Best thing for that rat it to get it into the pet trade.

By Jim Thomerson (not verified) on 08 Sep 2009 #permalink

"...the giant rat of Sumatra, a story for which the world is not yet prepared." - S. Holmes

I think we must finally be prepared.