Whenever I step out into my backyard, what appear to be tufts of grass jump out from around my feet and it takes me a moment to recollect that grass does not, in fact, jump out at anyone. On closer observation the first time this happened, I saw that what I had mistaken to be leaping grass was actually a colony of the tiniest frogs I had ever seen. To be precise, they were the size of finger nails. Sadly, I could not get the attention of National Geographic with this apparent discovery of mine, because as it turns out, those little fellas can grow to quite a size (and still manage to squeeze through door frames and into the shoes of ignorant humans). However, some lucky chap in a Malaysian Rainforest recently got credit for discovering the smallest specie of frog to date- the pea sized frog!
The point of this rambling isn’t just to gain the odd Ooohs and Aaahs among a plethora of yawns (don’t deny it!), but it is actually to make the respected reader feel a tad bit despicably guilty. The majority must be around the age of 16+, yet how many here can boast of discovering new species of frogs? Not to get indignant, but the point is, that most of us are actually blind to the actual possibilities out there!
Currently, scientists estimate that there are 8.8 million species in the world, but only a quarter of that number has been discovered thus far! Oceans could possibly contain 750,000 of these, according to the first Census of Marine Life, during which a Blind Mini Lobster was discovered at the bottom of the ocean. Some may argue, what exactly is the point of discovering these species apart from the obvious (sending biologists into fits of delirious giggles of course). Well, according to Pulitzer Prize winning Harvard Professor Edward Wilson, "We won't know the benefits to humanity (from these species), which potentially are enormous. If we're going to advance medical science, we need to know what's in the environment."
Makes sense, doesn’t it? Maybe an extract from the spleen of the recently discovered psychedelic frogfish can provide the cure to cancer in the not so far off future!
Maria Azim
Biology Writer
Currently, scientists estimate that there are 8.8 million species in the world, but only a quarter of that number has been discovered thus far! Oceans could possibly contain 750,000 of these, according to the first Census of Marine Life, during which a Blind Mini Lobster was discovered at the bottom of the ocean. Some may argue, what exactly is the point of discovering these species apart from the obvious (sending biologists into fits of delirious giggles of course). Well, according to Pulitzer Prize winning Harvard Professor Edward Wilson, "We won't know the benefits to humanity (from these species), which potentially are enormous. If we're going to advance medical science, we need to know what's in the environment."
Makes sense, doesn’t it? Maybe an extract from the spleen of the recently discovered psychedelic frogfish can provide the cure to cancer in the not so far off future!
Maria Azim
Biology Writer
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