Latest news with #Niari
Miami Herald
24-04-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Large'-eyed river creature baffled experts — until now. See the new species
In a small river of central Africa, a 'large'-eyed creature swam through the fast-flowing water — or tried to, at least, as something caught it and pulled it toward the surface. Scientists looked at their catch. They didn't know it at the time, but they were looking at a new species. Biologists Tobit Liyandja and Melanie Stiassny set out to study a group of African fish known as Labeo, a type of carp, with a history of underestimated diversity and confusing classifications, they wrote in a study published April 20 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Fish Biology. As part of the project, researchers encountered a 'particularly problematic' group of fish from the Niari River in the Republic of the Congo, the study said. Scientists had known about these fish for years but had trouble identifying them. Liyandja and Stiassny took a closer look at a few of these Niari River fish, caught between 2010 and 2013. They did CT scans of the fish, tested their DNA and scrutinized their physical features. A pattern began to emerge: the Niari River fish were subtly but consistently different from other known species. Researchers realized they'd discovered a new species — Labeo niariensis, or the Niari carp — and resolved a 'longstanding case of repeated misidentification.' Niari carp are considered 'small-sized,' reaching just over 5 inches in length, the study said. They have 'relatively large' heads with 'large' eyes, moderately sized mouths and 'prominent' snouts. Photos show several Niari carp after being caught and preserved. Overall, their bodies are dull brown. Niari carp were found in rivers 'with a strong current' and are likely bottom-dwellers but much about their lifestyle remains unknown, the study said. Researchers said they named the new species after the Niari Department where it was first discovered and, so far, the only place where it has been found. The department, which includes a river system with the same name, is in the southern Republic of the Congo and borders Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon. A 2020 YouTube video shared by Christian Mpea shows a river in the Niari Department. The new species was identified by its DNA, skeleton, fin shape and other subtle physical features, the study said.
The Independent
12-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
Penguins and ‘forest giraffe' among animals totted up at Hampshire zoo
A colony of Humboldt penguins, a rare okapi calf and a critically-endangered, cotton-top tamarin baby are among the new arrivals totted up in the annual stocktake at a Hampshire zoo. Marwell Zoo, near Winchester, carried out the audit as part of its licence requirements and staff counted more than 500 animals across 145 species. The centre's penguin enclosure this year included the addition of 10 Humboldt penguins which will form part of a European breeding programme. The zoo celebrated the birth of a 'forest giraffe' okapi calf, born to five-year-old Niari in October as well as the baby cotton-top tamarin named Fester last year. The herd of Przewalski's horse foals, which were once extinct in the wild but have seen a comeback thanks to conservation efforts, also grew by four in the past year. And other arrivals in 2024 included Warjun, a male snow leopard which came from the Czech Republic; and Cherry, a female red panda introduced as a companion for Tashi, Marwell's resident male red panda. A zoo spokeswoman said: 'One of the zoo's most extraordinary conservation achievements of the year was the release of more than 6,000 Partula snails into the wild in French Polynesia. 'Among them, 1,640 were bred at Marwell Zoo, marking the zoo's largest-ever contribution to a conservation reintroduction project.' Debbie Pearson, animal registrar, said: 'Our annual stocktake is an essential part of zoo legislation, and we're pleased to share this year's results. 'With more than 500 animals across 145 species, it's been a thrilling year with some exciting firsts for Marwell. 'The data we collect is shared through the Zims (Zoological Information Management System) Species360 database, which plays a vital role in global conservation breeding programmes.' The final report for last year recorded 145 species, including 19 invertebrate species, 13 fish, four amphibians, 21 reptiles, 30 birds, and 58 mammals.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Penguins and ‘forest giraffe' among animals totted up at Hampshire zoo
A colony of Humboldt penguins, a rare okapi calf and a critically-endangered, cotton-top tamarin baby are among the new arrivals totted up in the annual stocktake at a Hampshire zoo. Marwell Zoo, near Winchester, carried out the audit as part of its licence requirements and staff counted more than 500 animals across 145 species. The centre's penguin enclosure this year included the addition of 10 Humboldt penguins which will form part of a European breeding programme. The zoo celebrated the birth of a 'forest giraffe' okapi calf, born to five-year-old Niari in October as well as the baby cotton-top tamarin named Fester last year. The herd of Przewalski's horse foals, which were once extinct in the wild but have seen a comeback thanks to conservation efforts, also grew by four in the past year. And other arrivals in 2024 included Warjun, a male snow leopard which came from the Czech Republic; and Cherry, a female red panda introduced as a companion for Tashi, Marwell's resident male red panda. A zoo spokeswoman said: 'One of the zoo's most extraordinary conservation achievements of the year was the release of more than 6,000 Partula snails into the wild in French Polynesia. 'Among them, 1,640 were bred at Marwell Zoo, marking the zoo's largest-ever contribution to a conservation reintroduction project.' Debbie Pearson, animal registrar, said: 'Our annual stocktake is an essential part of zoo legislation, and we're pleased to share this year's results. 'With more than 500 animals across 145 species, it's been a thrilling year with some exciting firsts for Marwell. 'The data we collect is shared through the Zims (Zoological Information Management System) Species360 database, which plays a vital role in global conservation breeding programmes.' The final report for last year recorded 145 species, including 19 invertebrate species, 13 fish, four amphibians, 21 reptiles, 30 birds, and 58 mammals.
