Purring titi monkey and vegetarian piranha among new species discovered in Amazon

A monkey that purrs like a cat and a vegetarian piranha are just two among hundreds of new flora and fauna discovered in the lush Amazon forest.

 

The newly-discovered species of titi monkey, Callicebus caquetensis, has a particularly unique trait: babies of the species have a distinctive—and some would say adorable—cat-like call.

 

“When they feel very content they purr towards each other,” said scientist Thomas Defler.

 

Another interesting newly-discovered animal is a species of piranha which, contrary to its carnivorous reputation, eats only water plants.

 

The freshwater Tometes camunani piranha can reach a size of up to 20 inches wide and grow as heavy as 9 pounds. But with a strictly herbivorous diet, it feeds only on plant seedlings that grow among the rocks of swiftly-flowing rapids. It was found in the Trombetas River basin in Para of the Brazilian Amazon.

 

Between 2010 and 2013, over 441 new animal and plant species were discovered in a rarely explored expanse of rainforest in the Amazon, according to the World Wildelife Fund (WWF) and Science Daily. 

 

According to WWF, the new species included one primate, 18 birds, 22 reptiles, 58 amphibians, 84 fish, and 258 plants. Not included in this list are the immeasurable number of insects and other invertebrates also found.

 

“These species form a unique natural heritage that we need to conserve. This means protecting their home – the amazing Amazon rainforest – which is under threat from deforestation and dam development,” stated Claudio Maretti, leader of Living Amazon Initiative, WWF.

 

 

Scientists believe these newly-discovered species of plants and animals are unique to the Amazon rainforest. This makes them particularly vulnerable to the threat of extinction, especially because of the destruction of natural habitats that occurs across the Amazon rainforests every minute.

 

“Compiling and updating data on new species discovered in the vast extension of the Amazon over the last four years has shown us just how important the region is for humanity and how fundamentally important it is to research it, understand it and conserve it. The destruction of these ecosystems is threatening biodiversity and the services it provides to societies and economies. We cannot allow this natural heritage to be lost forever,” said Maretti said. — TJD, GMA News