New Spiny Mouse With Small Long Tail Found in Northwest Ecuador

A new species of spiny mouse was discovered in parts of the Chocó region in northwestern Ecuador. It has a noticeably small, long tail.

The small spiny mouse looks the same as other genus or species.

At first look, it is not recognizable as other different or new species. However, researchers discovered that the spiny mouse is a new to science.

Researchers have been working together to find new species of animals in the wildlife. The discovery of new species can protect biodiversity and ecosystems from possible invasive attacks, population decline and impacts of climate change.

The Golden spiny mouse is recognizable with its appealing golden brown look. It can be found in parts of Africa and the Middle East, in rocky crevices or savannas.

New Spiny Mouse With Small Long Tail

(Photo : by JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty Images)
A mouse on August 1, 2023. Researchers discovered a new species of Spiny Mouse in the Chocó region in northwestern Ecuador. The mouse has a small long tail. The discovery can help understand more about their cryptic behavior.

The spiny mouse is small. It also fast runners to evade possible predators as it tends to be very alert of its environments, hiding in the most unnoticeable areas to avoid potential attacks.

The name of the new species of spiny mouse was inspired by Marc Hoogeslag of Amsterdam, who helped with the international conservation of many species. 

In addition, the recent discovery listed the new species as the 14th of the genus found in the past five years and the 24th species. 

According to new research in Zookeys, neacomys is considered a genus of the spiny mouse, which thrives in parts of South America and Eastern portions of Panama.

With the collaboration projects and studies, experts would better understand the species or genus of spiny mouse, especially in South America.

The area where they found the new species, the Chocó biogeographic region, is rich in different species and biodiversity, which are unknown to science.

The researchers who conducted the research are from the following areas:

• Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad in Ecuador
• Universidad Industrial de Santande in Columbia
• Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
• Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity in Germany

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New Species of Mole discovered in Eastern Turkey

Two new mole species were found in Eastern Turkey, hiding in the mountains for about three million years.

The Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society journal published the study.

The moles were named Talpa hakkariensis and Talpa davidiana tatvanensis. Amazingly, they survived under the extreme temperatures in Eastern Turkey's mountains.

Moles can survive underground, which allows them to breathe. They can leave tracks in their travel area using their urine to evade predators.

They are found to resurface from their burrows or underground during the twilight hours, which gives them the advantage to escape attacks better and find possible partners.

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