A polar bear Antonia rests in its enclosure on December 14, 2012 in the Gelsenkirchen zoo, western Germany. AFP PHOTO / CAROLINE SEIDEL
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A new bat named after its devilish appearance, a subterranean blind
fish, a ruby-eyed pit viper, and a frog that sings like a bird are among
the 126 species newly identified by scientists in the Greater Mekong
region in 2011, and described in a new WWF report, Extra Terrestrial.
Among the ten species highlighted in the report is the aptly named
Beelzebub’s tube-nosed bat, a diminutive but demonic-looking creature
known only from Vietnam. Beelzebub’s bat, like two other tube-nosed bats
discovered in 2011, depends on tropical forest for its survival and is
especially vulnerable to deforestation. In just four decades, 30 per
cent of the Greater Mekong’s forests have disappeared
Here are a few of the recently discovered species.
© Peter Paul van Dijk / Darwin Initiative
A new species of snake called the ruby-eyed green pit viper (Trimeresurus rubeus) has been discovered in forests near Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam’s Cat Tien National Park is a stronghold for Trimeresurus rubeus, which inhabits a rather small geographic range, where pressures on forests are high.
© Jodi J. L. Rowley/Australian Museum
A visually stunning ‘yin-yang’ frog (Leptobrachium leucops), just one of five new amphibian species discovered in the region in 2011.
© Gabor Csorba
One of three new Murina bat species, discovered in Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve, Quang Tri Province, Vietnam. Murina beelzebub depends on tropical forest for survival—habitats facing severe threats from human pressures.
© Jodi J. L. Rowley/Australian Museum
While most male frogs attract females with repetitive croaks, Quang’s tree frog spins a new tune each time. No two calls are the same, and each individual mixes clicks, whistles and chirps in a unique order. It was discovered in the high-altitude forests of northern Vietnam (Pu Hoat Proposed Nature Reserve).
© Peter Maguire
Miniature fish (Boraras naevus), just 2cm in length, was found in southern Thailand and named after the large dark blotch on its golden body.
Enjoy this beastly Christmas carol rendition (liberties taken) courtesy The Daily Beast!
Dashing through the snow
A duck walks on the snow in Stralsund, eastern Germany. AFP PHOTO / STEFAN SAUER
On a one-horse open sleigh
Horses jump through falling snow in Hambach/Diez, western Germany. AFP PHOTO / BORIS ROESSLER
Over the fields we go
A young elephant plays in the snow at the zoo in Berlin. AFP PHOTO / TIM BRAKEMEIER
Laughing all the way
A Bernese Mountain dog plays in the snow in Zagreb. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic
Bells on bob-tail ring
A peacock walks in its enclosure at Hagenbeck zoo in Hamburg, northern Germany. AFP PHOTO / MALTE CHRISTIANS
Making spirits bright
A young polar bear wallows in snow at the public zoo in the Russia's second city of Saint-Petersburg. AFP PHOTO / OLGA MALTSEVA
What fun it is to ride and sing
A group of grey geese is pictured in the snow at the Tierpark Hellabrunn zoo in Munich. AFP PHOTO / ANDREAS GEBERT
A sleighing song tonight
A husky dog team enjoys the snow outside Aviemore in Scotland. REUTERS/Jeff J Mitchell
The New Zealand SPCA have trained three dogs to drive cars for a series of events to publicize the adoption of animals looked after by the shelter, claiming "you can teach an SPCA dog new tricks".
REUTERS PHOTOS/SPCA/Michael Bradley
Monty, an 18-month-old Giant Schnauzer.
Ginny, a 12-month-old Beardie Whippet Cross.
Porter, a 10-month-old Beardie Cross.
Onlookers take pictures of Monty, an 18-month-old Giant Schnauzer, driving a modified Mini Countryman.
New Zealand SPCA dogs (L - R), Monty, Porter and Ginny sit in front of a modified Mini Countryman on a race track in Auckland.
