Top 20 Most Unusual 'Rap Star' Species - Animals

(Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko; © Piotr Naskrecki)

Ran across this and thought it was pretty cool, some newer species that I have never seen or heard of. Nature never disappoints with her diversity and beauty. RAP is for Rapid Assessment Program:

To mark 20 years of field study, Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program has just named the Top 20 "RAP" Stars of the program's history. According to CI, these species are "some of the most biologically surprising, unique, or threatened discoveries" from their teams’ surveys.

Alonso, who has coordinated and led surveys for the past 13 years, has also just edited a new book, “Still Counting...” It revisits RAP expeditions that occurred during the past two decades. During that time, the researchers completed 80 surveys in 27 countries. Most turned up incredible, and often bizarre, species that we've frequently informed you about here at Discovery. Many are endangered and in places that are threatened by pollution, habitat loss and other human-related problems.

Russ Mittermeier, CI's president who went on many of the surveys, says that in doing the RAP work: “We have truly laid the groundwork for the future and created constituencies that are already carrying the cause of conservation forward.”

Glad to hear of these studies and efforts. Awareness is key to conservation.

Did you know, for example, that there are approximately 1.9 million documented species of animals, but it's estimated that up to 30 million species of organisms are yet to be discovered and scientifically described? Many disappear before scientists ever have the chance to discover and study them. This unfortunate process is known as Centinelan extinction.

news.discovery.com...
Wow! 1.9 million
Makes me wanna go sign up with National Geographic and do some exploring and photography!

Now check out some more of these lovely creatures.



2. Popular name: “ET salamander”
• Scientific name: Bolitoglossa sp. nov; (NEW to science, discovered by RAP)
• Location: ECUADOR

Although this richly colored insect may seem easy enough to spot in this photo, from a distance, the Peacock katydid (Pterochroza ocellata) manages to make itself look like a dead leaf on the forest floor of Guyana's Acarai Mountains. This camouflage is an important defense from predators.

Should another hungry insect get too close in pursuit of an easy snack, the katydid suddenly reveals the display we see in this photo. The insect gives the impression that two large blue eyes are staring back at the predator. And just for good measure, the grasshopper will jump around to give the impression of a large bird attacking, thus turning the tables on the attacker.


Wow, what a specimen!!! Awesome!
18. Popular name: “Emperor scorpion”
• Scientific name: Pandinus imperator (previously seen, NOT new to science)
• Location: GHANA


Love this little guy, and I did a thread some time back on him and some new friends:
Thread

And a nice vid put together, with a bit of education, enjoy.


Peace,
spec

Thank you for the F&S's. Are there any comments out there?
Sometimes simple adoration is enough with these nature threads, so I can dig it.
Just glad to share it yo....

Peace,
spec

Bump for prosperity