Post by thomasallencummins on Sept 19, 2008 5:26:37 GMT -5
Hundreds of new animal species discovered
Australian scientists discover brilliant soft corals, tiny crustaceans on reefs
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26786412
SYDNEY, Australia - Marine scientists have discovered hundreds of new animal species on reefs in Australian waters, including brilliant soft corals and tiny crustaceans, according to findings released Thursday.
The creatures were found during expeditions run by the Australian chapter of CReefs, a global census of coral reefs that is one of several projects of the Census of Marine Life, an international effort to catalog all life in the oceans.
"People have been working at these places for a long time and still there are literally hundreds and hundreds of new species that no one has ever collected or described," said Julian Caley, a scientist from the Australian Institute of Marine Science who is helping to lead the research.
I still find it quite amazing that this is still possible but then again we all tend to underestimate just how large and complex our world really is. We figure with thousands scientists working constantly all over the world that we would have discovered, studied and cataloged virtually every animal species there is. It's actually kind of nice to know there are still new discoveries waiting to reveal themselves to us. ;D
Australian scientists discover brilliant soft corals, tiny crustaceans on reefs
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26786412
SYDNEY, Australia - Marine scientists have discovered hundreds of new animal species on reefs in Australian waters, including brilliant soft corals and tiny crustaceans, according to findings released Thursday.
The creatures were found during expeditions run by the Australian chapter of CReefs, a global census of coral reefs that is one of several projects of the Census of Marine Life, an international effort to catalog all life in the oceans.
"People have been working at these places for a long time and still there are literally hundreds and hundreds of new species that no one has ever collected or described," said Julian Caley, a scientist from the Australian Institute of Marine Science who is helping to lead the research.
I still find it quite amazing that this is still possible but then again we all tend to underestimate just how large and complex our world really is. We figure with thousands scientists working constantly all over the world that we would have discovered, studied and cataloged virtually every animal species there is. It's actually kind of nice to know there are still new discoveries waiting to reveal themselves to us. ;D
