Territory mysterious species: scientists have discovered more than 1,200 animals and Unic plants (GALLERY)

Biologist's dream is to travel to a remote, unexplored world and discover unknown species. This dream came true when the team of scientists led by Piotr Naskrecki which conducted research Cheringoma Plateau in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.

Exploring the limestone cliffs, caves, lush forests and swift rivers, scientists have collected information about the species encountered here in order to help fleet managers to understand and protect biodiversity in Gorongosa.


 In total, the team has recorded more than 1,200 of which 182 species of birds, 54 species of mammals, 47 species of reptiles, 33 species of frogs, over 100 ant species and 320 species of plants.

Some truly spectacular species included: Chewbacca bat, named after the famous Star Wars character, a frog that lives in caves and believed it would be the first if it is observed an ant unable to walk on flat surfaces a bombardier beetle that protects the abdomen causing small explosions eliminating highly reactive volatile and many insects of the family Tettigoniidae, also called bush crickets, which have never been seen before

Ant Melissotarsus Emery

In order to observe these species, scientists use urn type traps, the nets, the cameras and ultrasonic detectors.









In order to observe these species, scientists use urn type traps, the nets, the cameras and ultrasonic detectors.

Portrait of an insect of the order Mantodea, nun Idolomorpha dentifrons

Bombardier beetle (Cerapterus lacerates)

Chamaeleo dilepis    

Most biological scientists specialize in the study of a certain type of organism or in a specific activity, although recent advances have blurred some traditional classifications.

• Aquatic biologists study micro-organisms, plants, and animals living in water. Marine biologists study salt water organisms, and limnologists study fresh water organisms. Much of the work of marine biology centers on molecular biology, the study of the biochemical processes that take place inside living cells. Marine biologists sometimes are mistakenly called oceanographers, but oceanography is the study of the physical characteristics of oceans and the ocean floor. (See the Handbook statements on environmental scientists and hydrologists and on geoscientists.)
• Biochemists study the chemical composition of living things. They analyze the complex chemical combinations and reactions involved in metabolism, reproduction, and growth.
• Botanists study plants and their environments. Some study all aspects of plant life, including algae, lichens, mosses, ferns, conifers, and flowering plants; others specialize in areas such as identification and classification of plants, the structure and function of plant parts, the biochemistry of plant processes, the causes and cures of plant diseases, the interaction of plants with other organisms and the environment, the geological record of plants and their evolution. Mycologists study fungi, such as yeasts, mold and mushrooms, which are a separate kingdom from plants.
• Microbiologists investigate the growth and characteristics of microscopic organisms such as bacteria, algae, or fungi. Most microbiologists specialize in environmental, food, agricultural, or industrial microbiology; virology (the study of viruses); immunology (the study of mechanisms that fight infections); or bioinformatics (the use of computers to handle or characterize biological information, usually at the molecular level). Many microbiologists use biotechnology to advance knowledge of cell reproduction and human disease.
• Physiologists study life functions of plants and animals, in the whole organism and at the cellular or molecular level, under normal and abnormal conditions. Physiologists often specialize in functions such as growth, reproduction, photosynthesis, respiration, or movement, or in the physiology of a certain area or system of the organism.
• Biophysicists study how physics, such as electrical and mechanical energy and related phenomena, relates to living cells and organisms.
• Computational Biologists apply the techniques of computer science, applied mathematics and statistics to address biological problems. The main focus lies on developing mathematical modeling and computational simulation techniques. By these means it addresses scientific research topics with their theoretical and experimental questions without a laboratory.
• Zoologists and wildlife biologists study animals and wildlife—their origin, behavior, diseases, and life processes. Some experiment with live animals in controlled or natural surroundings, while others dissect dead animals to study their structure. Zoologists and wildlife biologists also may collect and analyze biological data to determine the environmental effects of current and potential uses of land and water areas. Zoologists usually are identified by the animal group they study. For example, ornithologists study birds, mammalogists study mammals, herpetologists study reptiles and amphibians, ichthyologists study fish, cnidariologists study jellyfishes and entomologists study insects.
• Ecologists investigate the relationships among organisms and between organisms and their environments, examining the effects of population size, pollutants, rainfall, temperature, and altitude. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, ecologists may collect, study, and report data on the quality of air, food, soil, and water

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