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The Popa langur, a newly discovered primate species in Myanmar that is critically endangered (Thaung Win / CNN)
Scientists have discovered a new species of primates in the jungles of Myanmar – and it is already in danger of extinction
The popa langur is a species of monkey with a long tail and rings around its eyes and a crest of fur on its head that only an estimated 200 to 260 remain, according to a press release from the Natural History Museum in London, which collaborated on the study.
The research team named the sacred extinct volcano Mount Popa, Popa langurs, and classified it as « critically endangered »
« Unfortunately, this is a bittersweet discovery due to the limited number of individuals left in the wilderness and the scattered population, » said Roberto Portella Megiz, curator of the Natural History Museum, in the statement.
« The hope is that by giving this species the scientific standing and notoriety it deserves, there will be more concerted efforts to protect this area and the few other remaining inhabitants. »
In the study, researchers at Fauna and Floral International (FFI) and the German Main Center (GMC) conducted field surveys of langur, whose scientific name is « Trachypithecus popa. » They also collected samples and DNA for all other species of Trachipthicus – cousins of Buba Langur
The press release said they had combined data from these surveys and samples, as well as data from samples in other museums, confirming the presence of the new species.
One crucial piece of the puzzle was a 100-year-old specimen stored at London’s Natural History Museum in the early 20th century, British zoologist Jay C. Shortridge collected thousands of specimens, including a 1913 Trachypithecus specimen that was reexamined by Popa langur
« Monkeys are one of the most well-known groups of mammals, and these specimens have been in collections for more than a hundred years, » said Megges “But we didn’t have the tools or the experience to do this work before.”
There was other evidence that the Popa langur was a completely new species, such as differences in tail length, fur color, and skull shape – but genetic analysis confirmed this.
“This study demonstrates that natural history collections are a valuable and primary resource for genetic research, and in the context of the current biodiversity crisis, they are clearly more relevant and important today than ever before,” said Megiz.
Longor Popa is likely to be spread throughout central Myanmar, according to the study, which analyzed historical records such as museum specimens and travel notes – but only a few groups have survived now, the remaining individuals only live in four isolated groups.
The largest population is located in Mount Popa, home to over 100 languras. Mount Popa, a sacred pilgrimage site, is also home to an important wildlife sanctuary – but threats remain for the endangered pandas
« Even though Mount Popa is a national park, which means that the species that are found there are legally protected, hunting and deforestation for the timber and firewood industry is still happening, » said Meghiz.
Other threats include agricultural encroachment, environmental degradation, and other land disturbances such as cattle grazing, the study said
The study urged international agencies such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to add Popa langur to the endangered species list.
“Improved protected area management, particularly improved law enforcement is essential to stabilizing the two largest known groups.” “Forests in Bajo Yuma are severely degraded and fragmented, but they still provide the largest contiguous habitat if deforestation and forest degradation are reversed through improved forest protection and restoration.” / p>
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colobin, primates, monkey, gray langur, extinction, Myanmar (Burma), endangered species
World News – African Union – Scientists have discovered new species of endangered primates, while surviving Only 260 types
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
