Conservation International Scientific Expedition Discovered 60 New Species in Suriname

A scientific expedition by the Conservation International discovered 60 new species which included fish, snakes and frogs in the jungle region of southeastern Suriname. A team of the biologists from various countries took the expedition in the remote areas of Suriname, where no humans are found. They discovered various species which had Suriname as their habitat and were unexplored as of now.

The expedition took part during the 2012 in Suriname, which is the thinly-populated South American country north of Brazil and bounded by Guyana, French Guiana and the Atlantic Ocean. The expedition included the team of 16 scientists who participated in the Conservation International programme.

The work of the scientists led to a discovery of 60 completely new species, which included one snake, six kinds of frogs, 11 kinds of fish and various insects. The discoveries took place in the upper basin of the Palumeu River.
 
Most noteworthy discovery

• A noteworthy discovery was that of the Lilliputian Beatle which was merely 2.3 mm long and was considered as the second-smallest such insect in South America.
• This insect had the antennae which enables it to sense smells from a great distance away.

It is important to note that Suriname encompasses 25 per cent of the world's rainforests. Also, 95 percent of its territory is completely jungle. The Conservation International worked along with the Government of Suriname for over 20 years in order to protect the rainforests of the country that has outstanding biodiversity.