Digital News Report – Scientists from the California Academy of Sciences report that they have discovered over 300 new species in the Philippines. The new species were discovered both on land and in water. The scientists journeyed on their 42-day expedition into the deep ocean as well as to the top of the mountains. The new creatures discovered are varied.
The scientists believe they have found dozens of new insects and spider species. In the ocean water, they have found several deep-sea armored corals, ornate sea pens, and unique looking sea urchins and sea stars. There also was a shrimp-eating swell shark the scientists discovered, which the believe could be a new species. They found over 50 sea slugs that had a wide range of colors. There was over 300 specimens that the scientists collected during their expedition to the Philippines.
The scientists have collected samples which they will be testing the DNA and documenting other criteria. This will help them to determine if they have found new species that was never before documented by scientists. The process will take several months to complete.
Dr. Terrence Gosliner said in a statement, that the Philippines is the “hottest of the hotspots for diverse and threatened life on Earth.”
By: Victoria Brown