Finding several new species might be normal, but finding thousands of new species at the same time in one tiny area is impressive. A team of scientists found these new species in a remote South Pacific island.
About 153 scientists from 20 countries did a Santo 2006 biodiversity survey in the Espiru Santo island in the
Republic of Vanuatu. They are located in the South Pacific region.
The survey was partly
sponsored by the National Geographic Society’s
Committee for Research and Exploration.
In a five month period, the researchers collected more than 10,000 species for research and cataloging purpose. About 2,000 of them are newly discovered.
The squat lobster shown below was found in water 150 meters (492 feet) deep.
Nationalgeographic.com Squat Lobster
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A majority of the 10,000 species -- about 600 -- were crab species: the two-horn box crab is a unique one because it is able to crack and peel open snails’ shells with a sharp tooth on its right claw to cut open the shells and the long, slender fingers on the left claw to yank its prey from inside.
Nationalgeographic.com Two Horn Box Crab
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Here are more species pictures:
Nationalgeographic.com Sea Urchin
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Nationalgeographic.com Sundial Snail
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