A new report by conservation group World Wildlife Fund (WWF presented the new species that were discovered in the Eastern Himalayas in recent years, including a fish that walks, a monkey with odd sneezing behavior and a jewel-like snake.
Between 2009 and 2014, scientists have discovered a total of 211 species in the region, which is equivalent to 34 new discoveries per year for the past six years. Phuntsho Choden of WWF Bhutan said that the discovery of more than 200 new species during this period is a crucial indicator of a rich biodiversity.
"It also raises an important question of how to navigate the daunting development challenges facing the region while committing to preserve this natural heritage," said Phuntsho Choden of WWF Bhutan.
The WWF report mapped out the volume of newly discovered species that were found by scientists from different organizations across Bhutan, Nepal, northeast India, northern Myanmar and southern Tibet in an effort to raise awareness regarding the threats in the region.
Because of human development in the area, only a quarter of the original habitat of the Eastern Himalayas is still intact.
"The challenge is to preserve our threatened ecosystems before these species, and others yet unknown are lost," said Sami Tornikoski, from the WWF Living Himalayas Initiative. ""The Eastern Himalayas is at a crossroads. 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."
Among the notable discoveries were a walking fish and a monkey that sneezes when it rains. Researchers discovered the black and white monkey in the forests of northern Myanmar in 2010. The creature has an upturned nose, which causes it to sneeze when it rains. The odd monkey often sits with its head stuck between its knees during rainy days as this would help prevent the water from getting into its snub noses.
Another interesting species is what the conservation group described as a "walking snakehead fish." The blue-colored creature can breathe air, thrive on land for four days and slither up to a quarter of a mile on wet ground.
The discoveries also include a vividly colored pit viper that looks like a piece of jewelry, the aptly named freshwater "Dracula" fish that features fangs and three new kinds of banana.
