Discovering new salamanders in Fiji

Recently a new crested salamander has been discovered in central Fiji. The newly discovered species, Brachylophus bulabula, joins the community of scanties in the Pacific including two species in which one species is on the verge of extinction. The scientific name bulabula is composed of two words "bula", in the word Fiji meaning "hello".

Pacific crests are seriously threatened. Two species were extinct after humans were here nearly 3000 years ago. The three surviving Brachylophus crested species face the risk of changing and losing their habitat, and are threatened by wild cats, mongoose and goats, the animals that feed on them.

"Our new understanding of species diversity in this group of animals is the first step in determining conservation goals ," said Robert Fisher. He is a zoologist at the US Geological Survey in San Diego, and co-author of a new study of the salamander with scientists from the Australian National University and Macquaire University. .

Animals threatened

Close-up of new crested thunderstorms discovered in central Fiji.(Photo: © Paddy Ryan, Ryan Photographic)

In the Fisher crests studied, with a single exception, over 13 islands that were sampled, the researchers found that at least one particular genetic line had never been known. other.

For example, Fiji gibbons, Brachylophus vitiensis, are known to have lost many of the islands it once inhabited, which is endangered in the Red Book of the International Nature Preservation. IUCN is the largest global environmental network.

A new pair of crested families has been discovered in central Fiji.(Photo: © Paddy Ryan, Ryan Photographic)

The new study shows that the Pacific crested species previously found, Brachyophus fasciatus, is also extinct , Fisher said.

The journey of thunderstorms

Geographers and biologists have long failed to explain the mystery of how to get to Pacific islands. The nearest relative of this reptile was found 5,000 miles away.

Fiji thunderstorms are famous for their appearance, and their strange appearance in the waters of Thai Binh Duong, while their closest relatives reside in the Americas, Scott Keogh, professor at the Australian national university. , Canberra, and the lead author of the study, said.

New crested species, Brachylophus bulabulahas, has just been discovered in central Fiji.(Photo: © Paddy Ryan, Ryan Photographic)

Fiji's highest islands are above sea level for at least 16 million years, and the findings of the study show that extinct Pacific crests and now survive, residing in these islands. most of the time.The ancestors of the Pacific storm may have reached this area 13 million years ago after crossing the 5,000-mile route.

Invasive species and climate change

Efforts to describe the diversification of Pacific crests play an important role in setting biodiversity diversification goals for the Pacific basin.

New crested salamanders have been discovered in central Fiji.(Photo: © Paddy Ryan, Ryan Photographic)

Fisher said: 'The island force is being attacked by some invasive species such as snake brown tree, many kinds of mice and frogs, which reduces biodiversity. Climate change can reduce the habitat and change the Pacific coastline, further threatening biodiversity. A better understanding of the model and the process of affecting student diversity in this particular island group will help competent people set appropriate goals for conservation work. '

The new discovery detailed in the special issue of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B pays homage to Charles Darwin's contribution to the Pacific region. Other authors of the study include Danielle Edwards of the Australian National University, and Peter Harlow of Macquarie University, Australia.