Thursday 15 March 2012

new species found including possible evidence of different species of humans

New frog species found hiding in NYC
Researchers discovered the new Tree Leopard frog after hearing its distinctive call
Scientists say they have found a new type of frog living in New York City. While new species are usually discovered in remote regions, this so-far unnamed type of leopard frog was first heard croaking on Staten Island. Jeremy Feinberg of Rutgers University in New Jersey noticed the frogs there had a call he had never heard before. They look identical to other species, but genetic analysis showed they are a new species of leopard frog that probably once lived in Manhattan. While studying leopard frogs Mr Feinberg noticed that instead of the long "snore" he was expecting, he heard a short, repetitive croak."When I first heard these frogs calling, it was so different, I knew something was very off," Feinberg said.The frogs are currently found in Staten Island, mainland New York, and New Jersey, sometimes in sight of the Statue of Liberty.

Human fossils hint at new species
By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News
Scientists say the specimens display features that are quite distinct from fully modern humans
The remains of what may be a previously unknown human species have been identified in southern China. The bones, which represent at least five individuals, have been dated to between 11,500 and 14,500 years ago. But scientists are calling them simply the Red Deer Cave people, after one of the sites where they were unearthed. The team has told the PLoS One journal that far more detailed analysis of the fossils is required before they can be ascribed to a new human lineage. "We're trying to be very careful at this stage about definitely classifying them," said study co-leader Darren Curnoe from the University of New South Wales, Australia. "One of the reasons for that is that in the science of human evolution or palaeoanthropology, we presently don't have a generally agreed, biological definition for our own species (Homo sapiens), believe it or not. And so this is a highly contentious area," he told BBC News.Much of the material has been in Chinese collections for some time but has only recently been subjected to detailed analysis. The remains of some of the individuals come from Maludong (or Red Deer Cave), near the city of Mengzi in Yunnan Province. A further skeleton was discovered at Longlin, in neighbouring Guangxi Province.

Another new species of human, all this looks hopeful for believers in bigfoot/yeti as a relic humanoid species. The finding of a new species in an urban environment is even more astonishing and makes one wonder what else is hiding in plain sight.

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