When Pigs Fly! New boarlike species found in the Amazon
by bluecharlie.
A huge, animal lurking in the Amazon rain forest was discovered by Dutch biologist Marc van Roosmalen on 05 November 2007. Roosmalen spotted the new species of peccary (a type of large wild pig) in the Rio Aripuanã region of southeastern Brazil.
The giant peccary has two relatives, the white-lipped and collared peccaries, both of which are found in the same area. That's where the similarities end.
This new peccaries diet consists of fruits found in dry, wooded areas. It's relatives munch on seeds and roots. They live in pairs or small families as apposed to groups in upwards of a hundred. The most dangerous difference of this new giant peccary is they don't defend themselves from hunters. This makes them easy prey.
Researchers have recommended the new peccary be placed on the World Conservation Union's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Nationalgeographic News reports,
"If the largest member of the pigs-related New World family of Tayassuidae, the giant peccary ... could have been overlooked so far, what else can [we] expect to roam around in this huge terra incognita named Amazonia?" van Roosmalen told National Geographic News in an email.
On a final note, hopefully it won't take until pigs fly to add the giant peccary to the endangered list.
When Pigs Fly! New boarlike species found in the Amazon
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