Today's Corriere della Sera features an article on the exploration of Michele Menegon of the Natural History Museum of Trento, Tanzania, in the rainforests of the Nguru Mountains. Exactly where no human has ever set foot, the scientist discovered 17 new species of reptiles and amphibians that do not have names, since humans have not yet seen them
As a result of several expeditions, which lasted a total of more than two months, the author writes, 97 species of reptiles and amphibians were cataloged, including 17 unknown species.
This rainforest covers an area of 180 square kilometers and is threatened by the population living in the surrounding area. People cut down and burn trees to grow maize, potatoes and other crops on the vacated plots. Thus, the author writes, many species are at risk of extinction before they are given a name.
In order to find reptiles or amphibians, two conditions are necessary: the rainy season, when the forest is filled with moisture as much as possible, and darkness. Therefore, when the other members of the expedition are asleep, Michele goes into the forest with his electric torch, the author of the article says, dreaming of becoming the first person in whose hands there will be a living creature that no one has seen before. Then you should examine it, give it a name and present it to the scientific community.
Of the 17 species he discovered, one creature particularly shocked the scientist: Michele found a large frog at the base of a huge tree. He looked at her in the light of a flashlight and realized that this was a new species: the discovered frog belonged to the suborder Calluline, but was completely different from the already known species. It is larger than its congeners, with large light glands on its legs and a metallic sheen on its skin. She has orange eyes and an unprecedented color. “I put it in the bag and realized that tonight had started off great,” the scientist said.
Promotional video: