Trond Larsson

And that includes the discovery of species that may be new to science, as well as species that are already known but that are rare or that are threatened with extinction. And so the results of the study really show where a lot of these high-priority places are for conservation.

And that includes the discovery of species that may be new to science, as well as species that are already known but that are rare or that are threatened with extinction. And so the results of the study really show where a lot of these high-priority places are for conservation.

Yes, the discovery started to come in fast and furious. It's really an incredible dynamic and diverse landscape. We have cities and towns and territories of indigenous peoples and local communities, but also fragments and larger pieces of these wild ecosystems of all different forest types and swamps and cloud forests.

Yes, the discovery started to come in fast and furious. It's really an incredible dynamic and diverse landscape. We have cities and towns and territories of indigenous peoples and local communities, but also fragments and larger pieces of these wild ecosystems of all different forest types and swamps and cloud forests.

So it's just hugely varied and amazing terrain across the landscape where all of this biodiversity as well as people are thriving.

So it's just hugely varied and amazing terrain across the landscape where all of this biodiversity as well as people are thriving.

I did get excited about the amphibious mouse because it belongs to this group of carnivorous semi-aquatic rodents. On past expeditions, you know, we always search for this group of rodents and they're almost mythical because they're just so difficult to find and so naturally rare in most cases. And many species are just known by one or a few individuals.

I did get excited about the amphibious mouse because it belongs to this group of carnivorous semi-aquatic rodents. On past expeditions, you know, we always search for this group of rodents and they're almost mythical because they're just so difficult to find and so naturally rare in most cases. And many species are just known by one or a few individuals.

So finding any is really exciting and to find one new to science is really thrilling.

So finding any is really exciting and to find one new to science is really thrilling.

It is encouraging, and we work closely with indigenous Awahun people who have a lot of extensive traditional knowledge of the area. They were able to point the scientists to some of the best places where they could find really interesting species.

It is encouraging, and we work closely with indigenous Awahun people who have a lot of extensive traditional knowledge of the area. They were able to point the scientists to some of the best places where they could find really interesting species.

And things like the blob-headed fish, which, you know, one of the incredible new species discoveries we made, is something that's very well known to the Awahun people, and it's one of the fish that they catch and regularly eat for food.

And things like the blob-headed fish, which, you know, one of the incredible new species discoveries we made, is something that's very well known to the Awahun people, and it's one of the fish that they catch and regularly eat for food.

It really is bizarre and extraordinary. It's a type of armored catfish. And what's interesting is it looks like its close relatives in every way, except that it has this massive extension on the end of its head. It's hard to describe as anything other than a giant blob, almost like a big, strange nose. And the scientists have never seen anything like it.

It really is bizarre and extraordinary. It's a type of armored catfish. And what's interesting is it looks like its close relatives in every way, except that it has this massive extension on the end of its head. It's hard to describe as anything other than a giant blob, almost like a big, strange nose. And the scientists have never seen anything like it.

And we really have no clue what its function is.

And we really have no clue what its function is.

Yeah, we have at least 48 additional species that are potentially new to science that require further study. And there's also many species that are known but are really rare and threatened, many of them actually critically endangered, according to the IUCN Red List of Species, which is the highest threat level they could be in.

Yeah, we have at least 48 additional species that are potentially new to science that require further study. And there's also many species that are known but are really rare and threatened, many of them actually critically endangered, according to the IUCN Red List of Species, which is the highest threat level they could be in.

Well, that's hard to say. And of course, the discovery of new species doesn't necessarily change their conservation status, but it does help us to understand where things live, what things might have restricted ranges and be threatened with extinction, and ultimately to come up with better ways to make sure that they continue to survive into the future.

Well, that's hard to say. And of course, the discovery of new species doesn't necessarily change their conservation status, but it does help us to understand where things live, what things might have restricted ranges and be threatened with extinction, and ultimately to come up with better ways to make sure that they continue to survive into the future.

It belongs to this group of carnivorous semi-aquatic rodents. On past expeditions, you know, we always search for this group of rodents and they're almost mythical because they're just so difficult to find.

It belongs to this group of carnivorous semi-aquatic rodents. On past expeditions, you know, we always search for this group of rodents and they're almost mythical because they're just so difficult to find.

We led this rapid assessment program expedition to the Alto Mayo landscape with a grander vision of really filling the knowledge gaps that are needed to establish a new conservation corridor. And a big part of that is really identifying where the most important biodiversity is in the landscape.

We led this rapid assessment program expedition to the Alto Mayo landscape with a grander vision of really filling the knowledge gaps that are needed to establish a new conservation corridor. And a big part of that is really identifying where the most important biodiversity is in the landscape.