Central Africa's hidden treasures: 742 species discovered
The WWF organisation has recently published a major report on new discoveries in the world of flora and fauna over the past decade. The researchers focused on the Congo River basin. It appears that in Central Africa, there are still animals and plants that humans have never seen before.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the largest international organisations dedicated to animal conservation worldwide, has just published a major report on discoveries in the world of flora and fauna. Data were collected over more than 10 years (2013-2023). It reveals that the Congo Basin region in Central Africa harboured at least 742 new species of animals.
What new animals and plants did researchers discover?
The research and observations were conducted in the Congo River basin, which spans five countries: Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo. Although some of the newly discovered specimens may have been familiar to the local inhabitants for a long time, they are new to science. The WWF report includes a list of new species discovered and described by researchers from around the world. The data come from various expeditions, official and recognised scientific databases, and peer-reviewed scientific journals.
In the Congo River basin, the following were discovered:
- 430 new species of plants: including new orchids, ferns from the Asplenium genus, species from the Begonia, Coffea, and Hibiscus genera, as well as flowering plant species from the Didelotia and Grangea genera.
- At least 140 new species of invertebrates: including ants, beetles, bedbugs, flies, mites, moths, spiders, worms, and a new species of firefly.
- 96 new species of fish: including barbs, perches, catfish, clingfish, electric fish, killifish, swamp eels, and tetras.
- 42 new species of reptiles: including a new species of crocodile, turtle, and many snakes.
- 22 new species of amphibians: all of them frogs.
- 10 new species of mammals: including a new species of monkey, four species of shrews, three mice, and two bats.
- 2 new species of birds: forest robin and owl.
The most interesting new species: slender-snouted crocodile, yellow viper, and Lesula monkey
Among all the new species of reptiles, the Central African slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops leptorhynchus) stands out. Originally thought to be the same species as the West African crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus), research and detailed analysis of molecular sequencing revealed a new species that was "hiding in plain sight". Unfortunately, habitat loss and poaching affect both species, meaning that the newly discovered type of crocodile is likely to become endangered in the future.
Regarding snakes, scientists also included a new species of venomous snake (Toxicodryas vexator) from the family Colubridae, found in Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Another intriguing discovery is a new species of arboreal snake - yellow bush viper (Atheris mongoensis) from the region near Mbandaka along the Congo River, also in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, whose head resembles a small dragon.
The WWF report also features a new mammal representative, a rare occurrence. Researchers identified a new species of Lesula monkey (Cercopithecus lomamiensis), inhabiting the dense rainforests in the central part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, within the protective forest landscape of Tshuapa – Lomami – Lualaba. As the authors of the WWF report write, the local population had been aware of the existence of this species for some time, but it remained undiscovered by the international scientific community. The Lesula was only the second new species of African monkey discovered since 1984, and in 2013, it gained recognition as one of the ten most important newly discovered species in the world.
Scientists describe the Lesula monkey as having distinctive human-like eyes and blue colouring on the backside, as well as a low "boom" sound that echoes through the forest during communication. Unlike other monkey species, researchers deem them quiet and shy, usually living in small family groups of about five individuals. They spend their time calmly foraging for fruits and vegetation.
The Congo Basin faces many threats
Unfortunately, the Congo Basin faces many threats, including deforestation, illegal hunting, wildlife trade, resource extraction, infrastructure development, and climate change. This translates into a significant survival risk for the newly discovered species, as well as many other endemic species in this region.
As explained by WWF researchers in the report, discovering new species is extremely important for nature conservation, as it allows us to better understand and protect the forms of life we share our planet with. A species without a name cannot be added to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The full report "New Life in the Congo Basin: A Decade of Species Discoveries (2013-2023)" is available on the WWF website.
