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| New rainforest species revealed | New rainforest species revealed |
| (2 days later) | |
| An expedition to the rainforests of Guyana has discovered species new to science. | An expedition to the rainforests of Guyana has discovered species new to science. |
| A team of researchers and wildlife film-makers spent six weeks searching the pristine forest as part of a BBC documentary. | A team of researchers and wildlife film-makers spent six weeks searching the pristine forest as part of a BBC documentary. |
| The group believes it has revealed two fish species, one frog species and a number of bat flies that have not been described previously. | The group believes it has revealed two fish species, one frog species and a number of bat flies that have not been described previously. |
| The finds are detailed in the BBC series Lost Land of the Jaguar. | The finds are detailed in the BBC series Lost Land of the Jaguar. |
| The three-part documentary includes footage of the elusive South American cat.Dr George McGavin was astonished at the variety of life on show | The three-part documentary includes footage of the elusive South American cat.Dr George McGavin was astonished at the variety of life on show |
| "In a short time, we caught hundreds of species, 10% of which may be new to science. It was unreal, unbelievable," exclaimed Dr George McGavin, a zoologist and one of the four presenters of the documentary. | "In a short time, we caught hundreds of species, 10% of which may be new to science. It was unreal, unbelievable," exclaimed Dr George McGavin, a zoologist and one of the four presenters of the documentary. |
| He added: "Catching is the easy bit, the hard bit is going back to the lab and examining the species, comparing them to collections and books - seeing if they are new to science. One hour in the field can equal hundreds of hours in the lab." | He added: "Catching is the easy bit, the hard bit is going back to the lab and examining the species, comparing them to collections and books - seeing if they are new to science. One hour in the field can equal hundreds of hours in the lab." |
| The emerald tree boa was just one of the hundreds of extraordinary animals found in the Guyanese rainforest.In pictures | The emerald tree boa was just one of the hundreds of extraordinary animals found in the Guyanese rainforest.In pictures |
| Dr McGavin told the BBC News Website: "The expedition captured on film the discovery of the strongest candidates for new species - two fishes." | Dr McGavin told the BBC News Website: "The expedition captured on film the discovery of the strongest candidates for new species - two fishes." |
| These are a small banded fish (Hemiodus sp.) netted near the expedition's base camp, and a parasitic catfish (Vandellia sp.) that fell out of the gills of a larger catfish. | These are a small banded fish (Hemiodus sp.) netted near the expedition's base camp, and a parasitic catfish (Vandellia sp.) that fell out of the gills of a larger catfish. |
| The expedition also filmed the world's heaviest snake, the anaconda, "which looked like a pile of tractor tyres," said Dr McGavin. It also shows the world's largest eagle, the harpy eagle. | The expedition also filmed the world's heaviest snake, the anaconda, "which looked like a pile of tractor tyres," said Dr McGavin. It also shows the world's largest eagle, the harpy eagle. |
| Dr McGavin's highlight, however, was holding the Goliath spider. "It was quite a thrill, luring this spider, the size of a soup plate, out of its hole and holding it. Although I can see that this wouldn't be everyone's idea of fun," he laughed. | Dr McGavin's highlight, however, was holding the Goliath spider. "It was quite a thrill, luring this spider, the size of a soup plate, out of its hole and holding it. Although I can see that this wouldn't be everyone's idea of fun," he laughed. |
| The film aims to highlight the need to save this truly unique rainforest. | The film aims to highlight the need to save this truly unique rainforest. |
| "We have a choice, we really are at the cross-roads now. We can decide to keep these rich hotspots of nature or see them razed to the ground," said Dr McGavin. | "We have a choice, we really are at the cross-roads now. We can decide to keep these rich hotspots of nature or see them razed to the ground," said Dr McGavin. |
| He added: "If we lose the species at the rate we are going, we will be losing untold riches." | He added: "If we lose the species at the rate we are going, we will be losing untold riches." |
| First glimpse of the new small banded fish | First glimpse of the new small banded fish |
| UK viewers can watch the first episode of the three-part series Lost Land of the Jaguar on BBC One at 2000 BST on Wednesday 30 July | UK viewers can watch the first episode of the three-part series Lost Land of the Jaguar on BBC One at 2000 BST on Wednesday 30 July |