Discovered 7 new species of rats in the Philippines

The Philippine Ministry of the Environment announced that scientists have discovered 7 new species of rats in this mountainous forest area.

According to the Science Daily , an American team of scientists and colleagues in the Philippines discovered seven new species of rats in dense forest areas on the island of Luzon. Dr. Lawrence Heaney, the head of the study, said that most of the newly discovered rats live away from humans and are less harmful because they often eat worms and nuts falling on the forest carpet.

A photo published by the Philippine Department of the Environment shows that 6 out of 7 new species of rats
discovered in this mountainous forest area. Photo: Straits Times.

The findings were also published in the May 2011 issue of Field History National Museum magazine (USA).

The Philippine Ministry of Environment Ramon Paje said the discovery is evidence that the Philippines, a country with more than 7,000 islands, has the most diverse flora and fauna in the world. Mr. Paje also emphasized that the Philippines has the highest percentage of newly discovered species in the world.

However, Paje warned that the newly discovered rats' habitat was not protected, making them vulnerable to illegal logging and illegal logging.

Earlier this month, a group of US and Filipino scientists announced that they had found evidence of many new species, including sharks, eels, insects, sea cucumbers, sea urchins and some insects. However, they need more research to determine exactly whether these new species have never been known.