New Animal Discovered in Peru’s Andes

A rodent opossum from the genus Marmosa. Credit: Thomas Cuypers / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Researchers successful Peru’s Abiseo River National Park made a uncovering that expands technological cognition of the Andes. The UNESCO World Heritage tract revealed an carnal taxon antecedently undocumented: a rodent opossum successful Peru.

in 2018, Silvia Pavan, a prof of biologic sciences astatine California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, led the expedition. She had been searching for a mysterious squirrel believed to inhabit the area. Instead, her squad recovered thing unexpected—a tiny marsupial chartless to science. Their findings were published successful June successful American Museum Novitates.

A tiny mammal successful an antithetic place

The caller taxon was recovered adjacent an archaeological tract connected the eastbound slopes of the Andes. The animal has reddish-brown fur, acheronian mask-like markings connected its face, and measures up to 10 inches from chemoreceptor to tail, with a assemblage magnitude of conscionable 4 inches.

In a groundbreaking discovery, biologists successful Peru’s Río Abiseo National Park identified the tiny, big-eyed rodent opossum, named Marmosa chachapoya, a taxon antecedently chartless to science, highlighting the urgent request for conservation successful this affluent but susceptible ecosystem. pic.twitter.com/mCZRpBdhdR

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Its situation adds to the value of the find. Unlike related species, this opossum lives astatine an altitude wherever members of its genus are not typically found. “I realized instantly that this was thing unusual,” Pavan said. Only 1 specimen has been collected truthful far, and scientists person yet to larn astir its earthy past oregon distribution.

Years of technological confirmation

Verifying the find required years of work. Researchers examined the opossum’s DNA and carnal traits, including its elongated snout and slender build. They compared the specimen with others held successful museums worldwide, cautiously ensuring it had not already been identified.

The process demanded planetary collaboration and extended laboratory testing. DNA sequencing confirmed what researchers suspected from the start: the rodent opossum represented a caller taxon to science.

Honoring the Chachapoya

Pavan and her colleagues named the carnal Marmosa chachapoya, in tribute to the Chachapoya civilization that thrived successful the Andes earlier the accomplishment of the Inca and aboriginal European colonization.

The opossum was not the lone discovery. The expedition besides recovered respective different animals, including a semi-aquatic rodent that has not yet been formally described.

Conservation significance

The discoveries underscore the region’s relation arsenic a biodiversity reservoir. Pavan said the findings uncover the grade of the undocumented taxon successful the Andes and suggest that galore stay to beryllium identified. Without conservation efforts, immoderate could look threats earlier they are adjacent recognized by science.

“It’s a reminder of the captious value of technological exploration and conservation successful areas similar Río Abiseo,” she said.

The find of Marmosa chachapoya highlights some the biologic richness of Peru’s Andes and the gaps that stay successful knowing its wildlife. For scientists, it shows that adjacent successful protected areas, the earthy satellite continues to clasp hidden surprises.