World's smallest snake slithers into charts

Published on Friday 22 May 2009 23:38

THE world's smallest snake and longest insect are among the top ten new species discovered over the past year.

Measuring almost 2ft, a bug that resembles a stick became the world's longest insect when it was spotted in Malaysia. A tiny snake, just 4in long, was also discovered last year, in Barbados. Known as the Barbados threadsnake, it is believed to be the smallest snake in the world.

The creatures are just two of tens of thousands of new species discovered across the globe over the past 12 months.

An international committee of taxonomists – experts in species classification – has drawn up an annual list of the top ten species discovered.

A pea-sized seahorse half an inch tall, found off Indonesia, also made it on to the list, as well as a coffee plant that is free of caffeine from central Africa.

A self-destructive palm from Madagascar that dies once it has flowered was also included in the top ten.

There are fewer than 100 of the giant palms in the world, and they all live in a small area of north-west Madagascar. The palm produces a huge, spectacular flower and then, after fruiting, dies and collapses.

Soon after the species was discovered, seeds were distributed throughout the palm grower community in Madagascar to raise money for its conservation by the local villagers. It has since become highly prized.

Closer to home, a "ghost" slug was a surprising find in the busy capital of Wales, Cardiff. The white carnivorous slug has blade-like teeth.

A type of bacteria that lives in hairspray was identified by scientists in Japan and was by far the smallest species to be chosen.

A fossil of a fish that was the oldest-known vertebrate able to bear life also made it on to the list. The extraordinary fossil, called Materpiscis attenboroughi, was found in Western Australia. It shows a mother fish giving birth approximately 380 million years ago.

The specimen has been nicknamed "Josie" by the discoverer, John Long, in honour of his mother.

As well as the largest insect and smallest snake was a creature that was possibly the most twisted. It was a snail from Malaysia which has a shell that twists around four axes.

A beautiful damselfish was discovered in the deeps off the coast of Ngemelis Island, Palau, in the Pacific Ocean.

Professor Quentin Wheeler, director of the International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University, an entomologist involved in the top ten list, said: "Most people do not realise just how incomplete our knowledge of Earth's species is, or the steady rate at which taxonomists are exploring that diversity. We are surrounded by such an exuberance of species diversity that we too often take it for granted."

He added: "Charting the species of the world and their unique attributes are essential parts of understanding the history of life.

"It is in our own self-interest as we face the challenges of living on a rapidly changing planet."

More than 18,500 species new to science were discovered and described in 2007.

About three-quarters were invertebrate animals, and 11 per cent were plants.

This year is the 300th anniversary of the birth of Carolus Linnaeus, who initiated the modern system of plant and animal names and classifications.

About 1.8 million species have been described since it was invented. Scientists estimate that there are about ten million species on Earth.

The State of Observed Species report and list of top ten new species is issued annually by ASU's International Institute for Species Exploration.

The committee made its choices based on unique attributes, surprising facts about the species, or even peculiar names.

WHERE BUMBLEBEES FEEL AT HOME

OLD mouse holes in grassy areas at the edge of farmers' fields are the best habitat for bumblebee queens, Scottish scientists have discovered.

The research by Stirling University could prove crucial in the fight to save Britain's bumblebees and change the focus of bumblebee conservation. It found that the margins of fields are best, as they provide not only nesting sites, but also wildflowers for nectar-gathering.

Postgraduate researcher Gillian Lye, who led the study, said it could help to stem the decline of Britain's remaining native bumblebee species, which are important pollinators of wildflowers and crops such as oilseed rape and green beans.

She found that hedgerows were less attractive for spring queens than field margins.

She said: "The bees use old mouse holes in tussocky grass as nests.

"Land in field margins tends to have low levels of disturbance, so wild flowers grow up, which the bees like."