Conservation International is a very important group that works hard to find new or rare species. 2010 marked the 20 year anniversary of Conservation International launching the Rapid Assessment Program (RAP). RAP is a collection of biologist from all different backgrounds that are brought together to learn about ecosystems around the world and study how they function. To celebrate their anniversary RAP released a list of some of the new and rare species that they have found on their many trips. We’ve put together 20 of these species, along with a few bonus animals on the side, to show you some of the coolest creatures you’ve never heard of. In this first edition we take to the skys with species that can fly.

Dragonfly (Platycypha Eliseva)

Dragonfly Platycypha. Copyright Douwe B. Dijkstra

Where RAP found us: Beside the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2004

Are we a new or rare species: New

What we look like: Males have a unique yellow, red and white colour pattern on their bodies. We are about 28 to 30mm from head to tail

Why we’re interesting: We are the only Platycypha dragonflies in the area and we love to eat insects, especially mosquitoes, which helps to keep their population numbers down. We are also an excellent sign of good water quality because we only live around clean water.

Wattled Smoky Honeyeater (Melipotes carolae)

Wattled smoky honeyeater. Copyright Bruce Beeler

Where RAP found us: Foja Mountains in Papua Province of Western New Guinea, Indonesia in 2005

Are we a new or rare species: New

What we look like: Sooty grey song birds with a bright orangey red featherless patch around our eyes and a pendant wattle hanging from it

Why we’re interesting: Not only do we eat insects and small fruit but we also like nectar so we play an important role in pollinating the flowers around us.

Gola Malimbe (Malimbus ballmanni)

Gola malimbe. Copyright David Monticelli

Where RAP found us: Diecke Forest in Southeast Guinea in 2003

Are we a new or rare species: Rare

What we look like: Large black forest weavers measuring 18-20cm. Males have bright golden-yellow crescent and a black and yellow tail while females are mostly black with some muted yellow

Why we’re interesting: We normally are only found in Eastern Sierra Leone, Liberia and Western Cote d’Ivoire so being found in Southeast Guinea is pretty cool.

Tube nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene sp.)

Tube nosed fruit bat. Copyright Piotr Naskrecki

Where RAP found us: Hill forests of Papua New Guinea in 2009

Are we a new or rare species: Rare but previously not described

What we look like: Furry fruit bat with golden ears and a very distinctive face

Why we’re interesting: Although we don’t have an official name yet, we are sometimes called Yoda Bat because we look like the famous Jedi Master. We help with the growth of tropical forests by collecting seeds and dropping them in new places.

Sources:

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/16582998_dHjbS

http://www.conservation.org/explore/discoveries/surveys/birds/Pages/melipotes_honeyeater.aspx

Check out the next group of rare and newly discovered species, which features animals that love to swim!

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