‘Amphibious mouse’, ‘bubble head’: 27 new species discovered in the Peruvian Amazon

An expedition carried out in 2022 in the Peruvian Amazon resulted in the discovery of 27 new species, including an “amphibian mouse” with partially webbed paws that feeds on aquatic insects, as reported by Conservation International.

What happened

The expedition revealed 27 new species. Among them are a spiny rat, a squirrel, eight types of fish, three amphibians and ten butterflies, according to Trond Larsen, head of Conservation International’s Rapid Assessment Program, in an interview with Reuters.

There are another 48 potentially new species that require further study. These discoveries were made in the Alto Mayo region, an environmental conservation area rich in ecosystems and indigenous territories.