'Lost World' is home to species new to science

THE world's smallest wallaby and a frog with a Pinocchio-like nose were among the new species discovered in a remote mountain wilderness, conservationists said yesterday.

Wildlife discovered in Indonesia's Foja Mountains included several new mammals, such as a blossom bat which feeds on rainforest nectar and a giant woolly rat, as well as insects and other animals.

The discoveries, which also included a "gargoyle-like" gecko with yellow eyes, were made in a rapid assessment programme survey of the area, which has been described as a "Lost World", by Conservation International.

The surveys, which last three to four weeks, bring together teams of field biologists to assess the diversity of wildlife in a specific area. The Foja Mountains, classified as a national wildlife sanctuary, are in the Indonesian province of Papua on the island of New Guinea and encompass more than 300,000 hectares of pristine rainforest.

The team of scientists found a wide array of species, including a number believed to be new to science.