Scientists Confirm Tiny Ecuadorean Bat As New Species, Concede Probably Already Extinct - Mongabay

[hatrack]

Although the first specimen was collected over 30 years ago, scientists have only now confirmed that a tiny brown bat is indeed a unique species. Named Myotis diminutus for its incredibly small size, the new bat was discovered in the Chocó biodiversity hotspot, amid the moist forests of western Ecuador. "There are more than one hundred species of Myotis, twelve of which in South America and six in Ecuador. Myotis diminutus is the seventh Ecuadorian species, and the smallest of this group yet known in South America, weighing 3.5 grams," lead author of the paper describing the new species, Ricardo Moratelli, told mongabay.com.

The bat is likely gravely endangered according to Moratelli and may already be extinct, since the finding is based on a decades-old specimen. "Until new specimens of this insectivorous bat are caught, we will do not know whether the species is still living in nature. Only by inventory discover if the species still survives. <…> If field works confirm the species only the moist forests of western Ecuador, it will probably be one of the most endangered South American species of bat."

The bat was found at the Río Palenque Scientific Center (RPSC), a private conservation reserve on the western slope of the Andes, where much of the forest in the region has been lost to agriculture.

"The moist forests of western Ecuador at one time covered a large part of the Pacific Coastal area, blanketing the coastal plain and extending up the relatively steep slopes of the western side of the Andes. These forests undoubtedly harbored an enormous wealth and diversity of species, but exist today as a disrupted series of tiny fragments under continuing threat and facing an uncertain future," explains Moratelli.

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http://news.mongabay.com/2010/1116-hance_tinybat.html

[phantom power]

1. That's nice.

[pscot]

2. We're wonderfully efficient.

[GliderGuider]

3. I predict that in 200 years, animal life on Earth will consist of

A few hundred million humans, some dogs, a single species each of chicken, cow and pig, and a billion different kinds of jellyfish.

[guardian]

4. You forgot cockroaches.

Seriously though, I think your painting an overly grim picture. The whole "mass extinction" thing is way over hyped.

[GliderGuider]

5. Yes, how could I have ignored the cockroaches?

No slight is intended to any cockroaches, either real or Republican.

The picture I'm painting is of course sarcastic hyperbole.

[kestrel91316]

7. Mass extinctions are ALREADY happening. But you go ahead with those rose-colored glasses.

Just how many threads do YOU think can be pulled from the fabric of life before it ceases to function as fabric?

[guardian]

9. 7,342,230,203,091 threads n/t

[kestrel91316]

6. You forgot rats, pigeons, coyotes, and cats.

[GliderGuider]

8. They are a special case

Tasty enough to eat, not important enough to protect.

Ergo, extinction...

[Nihil]

10. I think you are over-estimating the survival skills of jellyfish ...

Consider that the SE Asia seas will be out of normal fish, reef fish,
sharks, rays, whales & dolphins. Just how much longer do you think
it will be before jellyfish are being subject to "scientific research"
swiftly followed by factory ships ...?

:shrug:

[GliderGuider]

11. Wow, you're more of a pessimist than I am! OK, strike the jellyfish... nt

[Nihil]

12. Why thank you sir! Praise indeed!

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

I just think the chance of anything edible surviving will be pretty low
by that stage unless the somewhat self-limiting option of cannibalism
is adopted early enough.
:evilgrin: