This collaboration between scientists to name and catalogue plants and animals, is critical to understanding our biodiversity. Australia is still in species discovery, with about 25% of our flora and fauna identified and assigned scientific names.
A report by Deloitte in 2021 outlined that for every $1 invested in discovering all remaining Australian species, $4-$35 in benefits could be delivered. These economic benefits could strengthen Australia’s biosecurity in identifying threats from exotic species, motivate research into wild crop alternatives, improve drug discovery processes and conservation outcomes.
The Australian Government has provided $3.85 million to assist in species recovery projects, including the Gondwana Rainforests that were impacted by the 2019-2020 bushfires. These rainforests in south-east Queensland are the home of Philoriaknowlesi, a new mountain frog. Rangers are undertaking measures to support recovery including fencing to keep cattle out of their habitat, feral pig control and weed control to promote regeneration.
The beautiful and endangered Bulloak Jewel Butterfly,(Hypochrysops piceatus) would struggle to survive without help from the newly named ant, Anonychomyrma inclinata. “The butterfly caterpillars live under bark and are carried to soft bulloak leaves to feed at night by ‘babysitter’ ants,” explained Dr David Yeates, CSIRO Entomologist.
“The ants protect the caterpillars from predators and receive a sugary gift from the caterpillars, a win-win for both species," he said.
Some of the new species added this year carry distinctively exotic physical features. Undarobius howarthi, one of the newly named weevils found in far north Queensland, do not have eyes. Instead, these lava cave dwellers have patches of pigment.
Close up of weevil crawling amongst dirt
Scientists discovered Eumillipes persephone, a record-breaking millipede, 60 metres underground in Western Australia. This millipede has 1306 legs, the most legs found on any animal on earth. Until this discovery, millipedes had never been found with more than 750 legs.
Aside from the economic benefits identified in the report by Deloitte, there are intangible benefits in preserving our biodiversity for future generations, plus it’s fun to learn about these exotic creatures!
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