Jungle surprise.On a recent expedition to the Foja Mountains The Foja Mountains or Foja Range (Indonesian: Pegunungan Foja) is located just north of the Mamberamo river basin in Papua, Indonesia. The mountains rise to 2,193 meters (7,195 ft), and contain more than 3,000 square kilometres of old growth tropical rainforest in in New Guinea New Guinea (gĭn`ē), island, c.342,000 sq mi (885,780 sq km), SW Pacific, N of Australia; the world's second largest island after Greenland. , Indonesia, scientists made a startling star·tle v. star·tled, star·tling, star·tles v.tr. 1. To cause to make a quick involuntary movement or start. 2. To alarm, frighten, or surprise suddenly. See Synonyms at frighten. discovery. The researchers stumbled upon a forest full of never before-seen animals, giant flowers, and rare wildlife. Within minutes of stepping off their helicopter, the scientists spotted a new animal species--a honeyeater honeyeater or honeysucker, common name for arboreal birds comprising some 160 species of the family Meliphagidae, and found in Australia, New Zealand, and the SW Pacific. There is a single South American genus. bird with a bright-orange patch on its face. The researchers also found more than 20 previously unknown frogs, four new butterflies, and many unidentified plants. "New species were just popping up," says Bruce Beehler, an ornithologist who studies birds at Conservation International, in Washington, D.C. In the coming months, the team of Indonesian, American, and Australian researchers will compare the discoveries to known species. Then, they will classify and name the new species based on their features. |
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