27 New Species, Including Amphibious Mouse, Discovered in Peru’s Amazon

A 2022 expedition in the Alto Mayo region uncovered rare mammals, fish, and insects, highlighting the area's biodiversity and conservation challenges.

Researchers identified 27 species new to science, including a semi-aquatic mouse, a blob-headed fish, a dwarf squirrel, and 10 butterfly species.
The discoveries were made during a 38-day survey in Alto Mayo, a protected region with diverse ecosystems and Indigenous territories.
Indigenous Awajún people played a key role in the expedition, contributing traditional ecological knowledge to the findings.
Scientists recorded over 2,000 species in total, including 49 classified as threatened, such as critically endangered monkeys and birds.
The findings underscore the urgent need for conservation in the Alto Mayo landscape, which faces threats from deforestation and agricultural expansion.