Discoveries of new mammal species and their implications for conservation and ecosystem services.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Ceballos G
PROVIDER: S-EPMC2656167 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Discoveries of new mammal species and their implications for conservation and ecosystem services.
Ceballos Gerardo G Ehrlich Paul R PR
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20090219 10
In light of recent discoveries of many new species of poorly-studied organisms, we examine the biodiversity of mammals, a well known "charismatic" group. Many assume that nearly all mammal species are known to scientists. We demonstrate that this assumption is incorrect. Since 1993, 408 new mammalian species have been described, approximately 10% of the previously known fauna. Some 60% of these are "cryptic" species, but 40% are large and distinctive. A substantial number persist only in areas u ...[more]
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