In 2022, biologists with Conservation International conducted a survey that uncovered a trove of biodiversity in the heart of the Alto Mayo landscape, which covers about 780,700 hectares (1.9 million acres) in the upper basin of the Mayo River, within the provinces of Moyobamba and Rioja, in Peru’s San Martín department. The survey revealed at least 27 new species — including a ‘blob-headed’ fish species of the bristlemouth armored catfish genus Chaetostoma — and 49 species that are threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List.
The ‘blob-headed’ bristlemouth armored catfish (Chaetostoma sp.). Image credit: Conservation International / Robinson Olivera.
The Alto Mayo landscape, spanning the Andes to the Amazon and including the Alto Mayo Protected Forest, is a complex mosaic of ecosystems and communities, including Indigenous territories, towns and cities.
During the 38-day survey, Conservation International researchers recorded 2,046 species, highlighting the critical importance of conserving the region.
At least 34 of them appear to live only in the Alto Mayo landscape, including the Andean saddle-back tamarin.
To document so many species, the scientists complemented traditional survey methods with technologies such as camera traps, bioacoustics sensors and environmental DNA (eDNA) collected from the water.
“Discovering four new mammals in any expedition is surprising — finding them in a region with significant human populations is extraordinary,” said Dr. Trond Larsen, who leads Conservation International’s Rapid Assessment Program in the Moore Center for Science.
“This is a vibrant, dynamic mosaic of ecosystems, both natural and anthropogenic, that we must maintain and restore if we hope to protect the species found there.”
During the expedition, the biologists identified 68 species of fish across nearly 30 study areas.
Eighteen species were recorded for the first time in the Alto Mayo basin and another 8 were new to science, including undescribed species from the Characiformes group as well as catfishes.
Among the shocking new fish discoveries was a ‘blob-headed’ fish of the genus Chaetostoma.
This species has an enlarged blob-like head, a feature that the team’s fish scientists had never seen before. The function of this unusual structure remains a mystery.
More than 200 species of butterflies were identified during the survey, including 10 new to science, 24 potentially new to science (pending further investigation) and 14 recorded in Alto Mayo for the first time.
The researchers recorded more than 70 species of scarab beetles across Alto Mayo’s diverse ecosystems, including two species of Scybalocanthon that are new to science and 45 species previously undocumented in the region.
They documented an astonishing 536 bird species across a range of elevations and a variety of ecosystems including cloud forests, lowland forests, palm swamps and coffee plantations.
They also documented 27 species of amphibians and 18 species of reptiles — more than expected given prior monitoring in the region and the proximity of human settlements to many of the study areas.
They found three species of amphibians new to science — a climbing salamander (Bolitoglossa sp.), and two frogs (Chiasmocleis sp. and Pristimantis sp.) — as well as seven more species that are likely new but require further investigation.
Two snake species were discovered that are potentially new to science — Atractus sp. and a subterranean blind snake from the genus Epictia.
Using a combination of methods that includes camera traps, the team recorded 50 species of medium and large mammals (over 1 kg) across a range of elevation and ecosystem types.
Excluding bats, the researchers identified 35 species of small, non-flying mammals (small rodents and marsupials, less than 1 kg), 12 of which were documented in the Alto Mayo landscape for the first time.
In addition to them, another 45 species of bats were recorded during the study, including a new species of the Carollia genus — short-tailed fruit bats.
The expedition also documented over 950 species of vascular plants in central Alto Mayo, including five species endemic to the San Martín region and 10 listed as threatened with extinction by the IUCN Red List.
Among the discoveries were three species potentially new to science — Stylogyne sp., Ilex sp. and Schefflera sp. — which are undergoing further study.
“We found that areas closer to cities and towns still support incredibly high biodiversity, including species found nowhere else,” Dr. Larsen said.
“These findings underscore that even in areas heavily influenced by people, biodiversity can persist but only if ecosystems are managed sustainably.”
“The more comprehensive understanding of where species live helps us identify areas with the greatest potential for conserving or restoring biodiversity, as well as those best suited for sustainable activities like ecotourism, selective logging, agriculture and resource harvesting,” he added.
Source : Breaking Science News