2 New Species Found on Philippines Islet

Two new species have been discovered on one of the smallest islands in the Philippines, a brilliant parrot and a large-eared mouse.

Residents of Camiguin say they were aware of the parrot but did not know about the mouse, The Independent reported.

Specimens of the two species were identified on the island and compared to museum specimens. Lawrence Heaney, curator of mammals at the Field Museum in Chicago, said the finds are especially significant since less than 20 percent of Camiguin’s tropical rain forest remains.

Knowing that at least 54 species of birds and at least 24 species of mammals live on Camiguin, and that some of these animals are found nowhere else on earth, makes us realize how important this island is in terms of conservation, Heaney said. For these animals to survive, we’ve got to save the dwindling forests where they live.