What's right: flaura and fauna discoveries 2024

ARA City Radio

In a world often overshadowed by news of extinction, there's a spark of hope: scientists have recently discovered new plant and animal species! Among them are two pirate spiders from St. Helena, a remote Atlantic island. These spiders aggressively take over other spiders' webs and inhabit the island's threatened cloud forest. An expedition to Peru's Alto Mayo region revealed 27 new species, including a semi-aquatic mouse with webbed toes, perfectly adapted to its swampy habitat, and a bizarre blob-headed catfish. One standout discovery is the Cao Bang Crocodile Newt, a tiny, shy creature resembling a mix of crocodile, gecko and frog. With a body like a baby crocodile, orange-tipped toes and a frog-like head, this adorable newt measures just 7 cm. While these discoveries inspire awe, they also carry a sobering message. Many of these species are already on the brink of extinction, largely due to habitat destruction driven by human activity. Each discovery is a reminder of the urgent need to protect Earth's biodiversity before it's too late.