441 New Species Discovered in Amazon Rainforest, Including Monkey that Purrs like a Cat

The Amazon rainforest remains one of the most species rich and, at the same time, most unexplored regions of the world. Now, scientists have learned a bit more about this biodiverse area. Over a four year period, researchers have discovered at least 441 new species of animals and plants, including animals such as a monkey that purrs like a cat and a flame-patterned lizard.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) compiled the new species into a list that included 258 plants, 84 fish, 58 amphibians, 22 reptiles, 18 birds and one mammal. In fact, this list actually does not include the countless discoveries of invertebrates and insects, which would make the entire count even more impressive. That said, this new effort shows that our planet still has many creatures that have yet to be found. This particular effort to find and categorize species is important as our climate continues to change and as species disappear.

So what exactly were some of the species? Scientists discovered an amazing flame-patterned lizard that was found from the hatchlings of eggs in the Colombian Amazon. Known as Cercosaura hypnoides, this species has not been seen in the wild since the original eggs were collected, which means that it's likely that the lizard could be endangered.

That's not all the researchers discovered, though. They also found a thumb-nail sized frog that's believed to be highly endangered and a vegetarian piranha, which can span 20 inches and weigh up to nine pounds. In addition, the researchers found a brightly colored snake in the mountains of Guyana and a beautiful pink orchard in the Brazilian Amazon.

Perhaps the most interesting species, though, is the mammal that the researchers found. Known as Callicebus caquetensis, the mammal is just one of about 20 species of titi monkey. When the babies of these monkeys feel content, they tend to purr toward each other. With red and brown fur, this small monkey lives in the Amazon basin.

"Compiling and updating data on new species discovered in the vast extension of the Amazon over the last four years has shown us just how important the region is for humanity and how fundamentally important it is to research it, understand it and conserve it," said Caludio Maretti, Leader of Living Amazon Initiative, WWF, in a news release. "The destruction of these ecosystems is threatening biodiversity and the services it provides to societies and economies. We cannot allow this natural heritage to be lost forever."