Latest news with #Misti
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Slender' camouflaged creature found on volcano in Peru. It's a new species
Thousands of feet up on a volcano in Peru, a 'slender' and scaly creature paused on a rock. Its coloring helped it blend 'seamlessly' into the landscape but wasn't enough to keep it from attracting the attention of passing scientists. It turned out to be a new species. Researchers hiked up the volcanoes around the city of Arequipa between 2020 and 2021 to survey the wildlife living on the rocky mountain slopes, according to a study published May 15 in the peer-reviewed Salamandra German Journal of Herpetology. To their surprise, the team encountered several lizards living at altitudes of over 13,600 feet, the study said. Intrigued, they caught some of these lizards and, after taking a closer look at the animals, realized they'd discovered a new species: Liolaemus misti, or the Misti lizard. Misti lizards are considered 'small and slender,' reaching just over 4 inches in length, the study said. Photos show the brown and black coloring of the new species. The lizards' 'coloration and patterns allow them to blend seamlessly with their environment, making capture difficult,' study co-authors Roy Santa-Cruz and Rudolf von May told McClatchy News. Misti lizards are active 'throughout the day, moving in open, rocky areas,' Santa-Cruz and von May said via email. 'Between periods of activity, the lizards hide between rocks… Based on observations of their habitat, they likely feed on small insects such as beetles and ants.' The 'remarkable' new species is also the 'world's highest elevation lizard,' according to a news release shared with McClatchy News. 'It lives at elevations up to 5,400 meters (17,716 feet) above sea level—currently the highest recorded altitude for any living squamate, the group of reptiles that includes snakes and lizards.' 'The new species represents an important addition to the biodiversity of the Andean highlands and also demonstrates how much remains to be discovered in these extreme environments,' Santa-Cruz said in the release. Researchers said they named the new species after the Misti Volcano where it was discovered and 'the most distinctive volcano of the three that surround' Arequipa. The word 'misti' means 'a white man' in Quechua and refers 'to the snow or white blanket that covers the volcano.' So far, Misti lizards have been found at four locations around Arequipa, the second largest city in Peru and a roughly 630-mile drive southeast from Lima toward the border with Bolivia and Chile. The new species was identified by its habitat, scale pattern, texture, pores, coloring and other subtle physical features, the study said. Researchers did not provide a DNA analysis of the new species. The research team included Santa-Cruz, Amaranta Canazas-Terán, Renato Bejarano, Evaristo López, Alberto Morales, von May, Alessandro Catenazzi and César Aguilar-Puntriano.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What Happened to Misti and Jim Raman From ‘The Amazing Race' Season 25? A Look Back at Their Story
The Amazing Race season 25 runners-up Jim Raman and Misti Raman proved that they were one of the most dominant teams in their season by frequently reaching the mat in first place and running in the front of the pack throughout the race. The couple's competitive nature provided endless entertainment for viewers and made them a fan favorite team. Unfortunately, a few years after their season aired, Jim suddenly and tragically died at 42 years old. In Touch takes a look back Jim and Misti's journey on The Amazing Race, what happened to Jim and where Misti is today. Jim and Misti, a pair of married dentists from Columbia, South Carolina, appeared on season 25, which aired on CBS in 2014. They made series history as the first-ever team to win the Save, which gave them immunity from elimination until the ninth leg. However, they never needed to use it. The team came in first place in five legs, and the only time they were at risk of elimination in last place was a non-elimination leg. The rest of the time, Misti and Jim mostly stayed in second or third place. Despite their strengths, Jim sometimes displayed overconfidence and a cocky attitude, which led him and Misti to develop a rivalry with Kym Perfetto and Allison C. "Alli" Forsythe. Misti and Jim also struggled with detail-oriented tasks, which caused them to fall behind Amy DeJong and Maya Warren in the finale and finish in second place. Misti, who shared two kids with Jim, told The State that the race strengthened their relationship after 15 years of marriage. 'Being together, basically sequestered from the rest of the world and only having each other to talk to day in and day out, it brought us back to where we began and reminded us why we fell in love and why we are together,' she said. 'What it showed us is all the reasons why we picked each other as partners in the beginning and why we picked each other as partners to race with.' On March 12, 2019, Jim was found dead at 42 years old in his South Carolina home after emergency responders were called to the residence early that morning and discovered his body, a spokesman for the Lexington County Sheriff's Department confirmed at the time. 'Nothing suspicious or criminal is involved with the case you are referencing and out of compassion and respect for family, my office will not comment on it,' Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher said in a statement obtained by WIS News 10. Jim's cause of death was never revealed. Irmo Smiles, the dental office where Jim worked with Misti, shared a statement on his death. 'Irmo Smiles has suffered a tragic loss this week. It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dr. Jim Raman,' the statement read. 'As our staff and the family prepare for Dr. Raman's celebration of life, please join us in praying for peace and comfort during this difficult time. We will be working to reschedule Dr. Misti Raman's patients and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. Your patience is greatly appreciated as we give Dr. Misti Raman time to grieve the loss of her loving husband.' Additionally, The Amazing Race's Facebook page posted a tribute to Jim. 'We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear of Jim's passing. He was a wonderful and very kind person. THE AMAZING RACE family has suffered a huge loss,' the post read. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Misti, and his entire family.' – Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri, co-creators and executive producers of THE AMAZING RACE.' After Jim's death, Misti moved on with a man named Ryan Crist, according to her Facebook page. They have since gotten engaged. She currently lives in Irmo, South Carolina, and frequently posts life updates on her page.
