Ugly Salamander Discovered!

06/22/2009

"Ugly Salamander" -- Photo courtesy of the Conservation International, © Jessica Deichmann

The folks at Conservation International recently announced that they’ve discovered a bunch of new species in Ecuador, including a little brown amphibian so far known only as the "ugly salamander.”

I don’t know about you, but I think he’s kind of cute, in an E.T. kind of way!

P.S. Watch me on the Today Show on Tuesday, June 23rd.  I'll be showing Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kopt some really cool live animals and talking about National Wildlife Federation's Great American Backyard Campout.

 

Comments

[Shawn]

Wow! It looks kind of like something from another planet...however, I'm with you. Very cute! How come so many undiscovered species in Ecuador, as opposed to, say, Brazil or an African rain forest? Just curious. What makes Ecuador so remote and what's the likelihood there are other places on the planet equally remote with unknown species yet undiscovered?

[David Mizejewski]

I don't think there's anything special about Ecuador vs. tropical forests elsewhere, it's just that this was where the particular expedition was looking. All tropical forests are hotbeds of biodiversity and new species are still being discovered in Asia and Africa as well as South America.

[Haley]

Um... looks like E.T.