A group of American and Filipino biologists have discovered seven previously unknown species of mammals in the Philippines, increasing the number of native mammals known from Luzon Island (excluding bats) from 42 to 49 (17 percent).

US and Filipino researchers believe they have discovered scores of new species of animals in the waters and islands of the Philippines, they said Wednesday.

Songda is now a typhoon in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean as it continues tracking parallel to the eastern coast of Luzon, Philippines.

LINCOLNWOOD, Ill., Nov. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Physically, it is built of adobe and stone. Looking deeper, however, one can see that it is made of much more, crafted of droughts, epidemics and vicious typhoons, composed of violent fighting, painful occupations and the glories of freedom.

Mirinae (Santi) caused 12 hours of flooding rains in the Philippines when it crossed the northern Luzon region over the weekend.