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New Species Discovered in Costa Rica
By Explore Costa Rica staff
Jun 5, 2009, 12:35

New Species Discovered in Costa Rica

Costa Rican scientists discover new species of fish and frogs.

Scientists from the University of Costa Rica's Science and Limnology Center (CIMAR) on Tuesday announced the discovery of two species of lion fish present off Punta Uva on the southern Caribbean coast.

After an analysis of a school of the fish in the zone, researchers discovered two different types of lion fish: Pterois volitans (Red lionfish) and Pterois miles (Devil firefish), according to newswire EFE.

Both types of lionfish hail from the western pacific ocean, although more recently they have been discovered all along the Atlantic Coast of the United States.

The two species look similar, with spinney, fan-like pectoral fins which are venomous, but not lethal to human beings.

The new lion fish Is the second animal species discovery in Costa Rica in just over a month.

On May 1, Zootaxa, an international taxonomy journal, published a study by University of Costa Rica (UCR) researchers that identified a new species of dink frog in the Talamanca mountain range.

The frog, Diasporus ventrimaculatus, prefers cooler rain forest environments. According to the study, the amphibian lives in the Altamira-Valle de Silencio area at an altitude of around 2,500 meters (8,196.7 feet) where the annual temperature averages around 17 degrees Celsius (62.6 degrees Farenheit).

Scientists believe the new frog species to be endemic to Costa Rica.