Scientists discover 27 new species in densely populated area full of 'Mystery' animals

• A trip by Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program conducted a species survey of Peru's Alto Mayo landscape in 2024

• The expedition recorded more than 2,000 species during their 38-day survey

• Of the creatures recorded, 27 are species that are new to science

A scientific expedition focused on the preservation of the known animals in Peru's Alto Mayo Landscape found 27 new species in need of protection.

In 2024, Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) launched a 38-day survey of the Alto Mayo Landscape – “a complex patchwork of ecosystems and communities, including indigenous areas, towns and cities” stretching from the Andes to Amazon, according to the group.

Trond Larsen, Ph.D, scientific director of the expedition, tells PEOPLE that the mission is to “assess and study biodiversity and ecosystem health” in this area.

Trond is a “conservation ecologist, but also an explorer and naturalist.” He is also senior director of biodiversity and ecosystem science at Conservation International and director of the organization's Rapid Assessment Program.

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“For more than ten years, Conservation International has been working with the Awajún people and local communities in Alto Mayo to reduce deforestation by supporting sustainable livelihoods, such as ' selling medicinal tea and vanilla, and sustainable agriculture with cocoa and coffee beans, “Trond explains. the collaboration that led to his recent trip.

“These efforts are now culminating in a vision to establish a conservation corridor across the Alto Mayo landscape that will connect the most degraded areas to existing protected areas,” he said. by maintaining the unique biodiversity of Alto Mayo while ensuring that people continue to receive the benefits of nature on which they depend.”

Before this corridor can be built, Conservation International needs to know “where the most important species live, especially those that are new to science, rare, or in danger of extinction.” “

Trond's visit to the Alto Mayo Landscape was to fill in these “information gaps” so that the corridor can develop a land-use plan that supports biodiversity conservation, agricultural sustainability, and habitat connectivity throughout the region in general.

During the trip's five-week survey, scientists recorded more than 2,000 species, an “appalling” number for a “human-dominated” area of ​​the Peruvian rainforest. Even more unexpectedly, out of the hundreds of species recorded, 27 were new to science, including four new mammals, eight fish, three amphibians, and ten butterfly species . In addition, “There may be 48 species new to science awaiting further research, and at least 49 species are in danger of extinction,” according to Trond.

“Our team was very surprised by the extremely high levels of biodiversity we encountered, especially the number of species that are new to science. Although the discovery of new invertebrates, such as insects, very common, so many vertebrate animals are found, including new mammals, amphibians, and fish, awesome,” said the tour leader.

The conservation ecologist admits he has a favorite among the newly discovered species.

“My favorite, and also the most unusual, is the blob-headed fish,” Trond says.

The creature is a type of armored catfish, distinguished from other armed catfish by the large, bulbous speckled 'blob' that extends from the top of its head.”

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Other new species to science discovered during the trip include a new type of bat, an amphibian mouse, a climbing salamander, and a squirrel.

“Although this fish is familiar to the local Awajun indigenous people, it is completely new to scientists, and the function of this strange blob-like structure remains a mystery,” said Trond.

“The scientific experts continue to study the newly discovered species in more detail, and finally, each species will be formally described and named, with the information published in scientific journal,” he says about what's next for the new animals.

Conservation International is working with the regional government and local communities to restore the areas of the Alto Mayo landscape that are vital for the animals listed by the tour.

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According to Trond, the Alto Mayo Landscape is the “most populated and human-impacted” landscape in which RAP has worked.

The “shocking and unexpected” discovery of so many new species and the overall “tremendous diversity” of the Alto Mayo landscape show RAP and Conservation International that populated areas can be “largely neglected” by -science of still living with natural life.

Trond's next RAP trip will take place in northeastern Bolivia in the first half of 2025. To learn more about Conservation International and how the organization protects nature, visit www.conservation.org.

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