A Research Team Rediscovers Some Extinct Creatures in the "Lost City" of Honduras

Mosquitia Rainforest of Honduras: "The White City"

Mosquitia rainforest of Honduras (Image:CNN)

Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) of Conservation International founded in 1990 to get more and more knowledge about ecosystem. It sends team of experts on short expeditions into world critically important field sites. At these sites experts evaluate the state of regions biodiversity and the health of ecosystem.

Recently, Rapid Assessment Program team spend three weeks in Mosquitia rainforest of Honduras. And what they found out this time was quite surprising. They found some rare and endangered species, which we thought of being extinct.

As per the reports of The Independence, “The research team named that explored ancient settlement as “Lord City of Monkey God” or “White city”. This place has hundreds of species of butterflies, bats and reptiles.

Research team discovered 246 species of butterflies and moths, 30 species of bats and 57 amphibians and reptiles. Director of RAP, Trond Larsen said that, “We were shocked to discover such a rich environment of rare species, the white city is one of the few areas remaining in Central America where ecological and evolutionary processes remain intact”. 

Baird Tapir (Image:CNN)

Baird Tapir also known as the Central American Tapir, this endangered species is native to Mexico, Central America and north-western South America. According to the IUCN, Baird Tapir is in danger of extinction and in 1996 it was officially classified as Vulnerable. But it is rediscovered by research team in Honduras rainforest. There are two main contributing factors in the decline of species: poaching and habitat loss.

Eyelash Viper (Image: CNN)

Eyelash Viper is a venomous pit viper species which uses its tongue to smell its surroundings found in Central and South America. Eyelash Vipers have not been evaluated by the IUCN Red List and were removed from Cites Appendix 2002. While not listed as threatened, they could be at risk of habitat loss from increased deforestation for timber, agriculture and urbanization.

Red Eyed Tree Frog (Image:CNN)

The species of red eyed tree frog is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its wide distribution and presumed large populations.

Worm Salamander (Image: CNN)

On the scientific expedition, team members spotted a species of worm salamander. Its high on the list of conservation priorities as its very vulnerable.

Male Harqueline Beetle (Image :CNN) 

Larsen says to CNN that “he particularly enjoys admiring insects and beetles, I am fascinated with the smaller creatures that represent so much of the biodiversity around us”.

Morpho Butterfly (Image: CNN)

The research team took this picture of Morpho Butterfly which is considered on of the largest butterflies in the world. It have wings of Five to eight inches in length.