200 new species of plants and animals discovered in Himalayas

The furry fellow often spends rainy days with its head down between its knees because otherwise the water runs into its upturned nose and makes it sneeze.

When asked about about the snub-nosed monkey local people said that it is very easy to find the monkey in regions of Myanmar. But the critically endangered snub-nosed monkeys of Kachin State, discovered in 2010, were one of 211 new species found between 2009 and 2014 in the widely diverse slice of land hugging the eastern Himalayas, according to the World Wildlife Foundation. Although there are variants of snub-nosed monkeys in China and Vietnam, the new species Rhinopithecus strykeri is characterized by an upturned face, nearly making them appear nose-less.

Dechen Dorji, of WWF Bhutan, said: ‘The discovery of 211 new species from one of the most biologically rich regions of the world is a celebration of the awesome gift of nature.

In the Eastern Himalayas at least 345 new species were discovered between 1998 and 2008.

The most spectacular one among them was the vibrant blue dwarf “walking” snakehead fish, with its lovely colors and even more exceptional capabilities.

In addition to highlighting the hundreds of new species discovered by various entities, the report points out the threats facing the region’s ecosystems – an area which spans Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Tibet and India.

In spite of the fact that it was discovered in high numbers in a small stream, it is still hard to differentiate whether this unique species is prevalent to a single ecosystem within Myanmar, or spread throughout the area as a whole. The fish’s ability to breath air means it can live on land for a few days before returning to its freshwater habitat. Of course, the living gems-the bejewelled lance-headed Pit Viper (Protobothrops himalayansus) was also discovered here. At the moment, only 25% of the Eastern Himalayas have intact wild habitats due to human development. “Governments can decide whether to follow the current path towards fragile economies that do not fully account for environmental impacts, or take an alternative path towards greener, more sustainable economic development”, Sami Tornikoski, leader of the WWF Living Himalayas Initiative, said in a statement.

Considering that the Japanese Himalayas are also home to other highly threatened animals, such as the one-horned rhinoceros and the Asian elephant, the WWF and other conservationists have plenty of reasons to be concerned.

For a listing of all of the species, and a extra elaborate have a look at their attributes, learn the WWF report here.