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Sporting a flashy pattern of lavender on black, this newfound species of toad is among two-dozen animals that scientists discovered recently in the highlands of the northern Amazon.Among the new creatures are four frogs, six species of fish, a dozen kinds of dung beetles, and a type of ant never before seen by scientists.Researchers made the finds during a survey of remote plateaus in eastern Suriname from 2005 to 2006 (see map of Suriname).Two mining companies sponsored the research, which was conducted by the nonprofit group Conservation International (CI), to determine the diversity of wildlife in the area before it undergoes further development. Though secluded, the region has already felt enough pressure from human activity to drive some animals to near extinction. One of the expedition's welcome surprises was the re-discovery of an armored catfish that had not been seen in 50 years and was presumed extinct due to contamination by local gold mines. The survey's findings underscore the importance of protecting Suriname's rare and delicate mountain forest habitats as the human footprint in the region grows, the scientists said. "Suriname has some of the Amazon's most pristine and intact rainforest, which offers huge potential for scientific research and economic investment," CI's Leeanne Alonso, who led the survey, said in a statement. "Our study will be a vital component in determining how to promote economic development in Suriname while protecting the nation's most valuable natural assets."



A nickname came easily for this newly discovered species, dubbed the big-mouth catfish by scientists who found it in the highlands of eastern Suriname. In addition to its gaping kisser, the big-mouth is unusual for its small size, the researchers said. During their survey of the Surinamese Amazon in 2005, scientists found many species of dwarf catfish, some of which were no more than 2.5 inches (6.3 centimeters) long. This diminutive specimen likely thrives only in Suriname's high-altitude streams, the experts added.


Among the two-dozen new animals recently discovered in Suriname were four frogs belonging to the genus Eleutherodactylus, including this species yet to be named. Though perhaps not as dazzling as their more colorful cousins in the rain forest, frogs of this type are known for their handy adaptations—including muted colors that help camouflage them and eggs that hatch fully formed frogs instead of tadpoles.

This unusual snake is not new to science, but it's an important harbinger of environmental health, according to scientists who found it in Suriname in 2005. The Amazonian snail-eater depends on closed-canopy rain forest for its diet of snails, which the snake can extract from their shells using its slender jaw. The snail-eater, like the more than 450 other animals that the scientists documented in their expedition, is susceptible to disruptions that human activity causes in the rain forest. When reporting their findings in a statement yesterday, the researchers called for improved management of the region to deal with the threats posed by hunting and illegal mining. "Strategies [for future conservation] should focus on protecting freshwater streams and preventing fragmentation of the natural habitat from unchecked or poorly planned development," they said.