Peru Expedition Reveals 27 New Species, Including Rare Amphibious Mouse and Blob-Headed Fish

This ‘blob-headed’ fish (Chaetostoma sp.), also new to science, was a shocking discovery due to its enlarged blob-like head, a feature that the fish experts have never seen before. The function of this unusual structure remains a mystery. It is a type of bristlemouth armored catfish / Este pez «cabeza de calamardo» (Chaetostoma sp.), también nuevo para la ciencia, fue un descubrimiento impactante debido a su cabeza agrandada que se asemeja al famoso personaje de dibujos animados, una característica que los expertos en peces nunca habían visto antes. La función de esta inusual estructura sigue siendo un misterio. Se trata de un tipo de siluro acorazado de boca erizada ©CI/Robinson Olivera

In a remarkable scientific expedition to Peru’s Alto Mayo region, researchers have discovered 27 previously unknown species, including an amphibious mouse with webbed feet and a peculiar blob-headed fish. The findings, published in Conservation International’s Rapid Assessment Program Bulletin, reveal nature’s resilience in human-populated areas. The 38-day expedition in June and July 2022 documented over 2,000 species in this northwestern Peruvian landscape, home to 280,000 people. Despite facing pressures from deforestation and agriculture, the region proved to be an unexpected treasure trove of biodiversity. “Discovering even one new species of mammal on an expedition would be extraordinary, but discovering four … Continue reading Peru Expedition Reveals 27 New Species, Including Rare Amphibious Mouse and Blob-Headed Fish