Sneezing Monkey, 'Walking Fish' Both Newly Discovered Himalayan Species

A walking fish, a sneezing monkey and a jewel-like snake were a few of the 200 new species uncovered within the Eastern Himalayas over the past few years, according to a World Wildlife Foundation report.

An average of 211 species were discovered between 2009 and 2014, which is about 34 species per annum, over the last six years. Of all the species that were found by scientists, there were 133 plants, 39 invertebrates, 10 amphibians, 26 fish, one reptile, one bird and one mammal, according to the report.

The blue dwarf "walking snakehead fish" discovered by researchers can breathe atmospheric air, and can survive for four days on land. And the recently found monkey, with a smug nose, sneezes whenever it rains.

"I am excited that the region - home to a staggering number of species including some of the most charismatic fauna - continues to surprise the world with the nature and pace of species discovery," said Ravi Singh, CEO of WWF India and Chair of WWF's Living Himalayas Initiative.

The Himalayas are classified as having one of the most unique biological compositions on Earth, where it occupies portions of northern India, Nepal, northern Myanmar and some southern parts of Tibet. However, some parts of this region are at risk because of many infrastructural developments in the region. As a result of development, only 25 percent of the original habitats in the area remain intact, and hundreds of the species within the Eastern Himalayas are endangered, according to WWF.

"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," said Sami Tornikoski, leader of the WWF Living Himalayas Initiative.

One of the region's most severe threats is climate change, along with human activities such as population growth, deforestation, wildlife trade, mining, pollution and hydropower development projects that contribute to the deterioration of the area's weak ecosystems.

Countries within the Eastern Himalayan areas have received significant support from WWF, where they work to support these countries' progress towards green economies, their value to the ecosystems, and the services they provide to millions of people in the area.

While this province is one of the most delicate ecological regions on earth, the WWF Living Himalayas Initiative's main role is to enact dynamic regional collaboration and ensure that ecological means are intact.

WWF is working with communities on the edge of the region's snow leopard range, through the USAID-funded Asia High Mountains project, where the effects of climate change and unsustainable development are brutal on the region. WWF are also influencing a policy where people and biodiversity can prosper in an ecofriendly manner collaboratively.

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