17 Dec, 2008
Mekong Valley a Treasure Trove of New Species
Tuesday , December 16, 2008
Striped rabbits, bright pink millipedes laced with cyanide and a spider bigger than a dinner plate are among a host of new species discovered in a remote wildlife hotspot.
The Greater Mekong is described as one of the last scientifically unexplored regions of the world and it abounds in life seen nowhere else in the world, according to a new report from the World Wide Fund for Nature.
So little is known about the ecology of the region that previously unknown animals and plants have been turning up at a rate of two a week for a decade.
At least 1,068 new species were identified in the Greater Mekong from 1997 to 2007, along with several thousand tiny invertebrates.
Annamite striped rabbits, Nesolagus timminsi, with black and brown fur, were discovered in Vietnam and Laos in 2000 and are only the second species of striped rabbit to be identified. The other is in Sumatra, the two sharing a common ancestor that lived several million years ago.
Among the most bizarre to be discovered was a hot-pink, spiny dragon millipede, Desmoxytes purpurosea. Several were found simultaneously in Thailand as they crawled over limestone rocks and palm leaves.
(Picture Caption: A dragon millipede, Desmoxytes purpurosea, from the Thai side of the Mekong river.)
(Article Provided by: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,467144,00.html)
The Wonder of it all...
Psalm 104:24-30 (The Message)
What a wildly wonderful world, God!
You made it all, with Wisdom at your side,
made earth overflow with your wonderful creations.
Oh, look—the deep, wide sea,
brimming with fish past counting,
sardines and sharks and salmon.
Ships plow those waters,
and Leviathan, your pet dragon, romps in them.
All the creatures look expectantly to you
to give them their meals on time.
You come, and they gather around;
you open your hand and they eat from it.
If you turned your back,
they'd die in a minute—
Take back your Spirit and they die,
revert to original mud;
Send out your Spirit and they spring to life—
the whole countryside in bloom and blossom.
What does God's Story scripture teach us about appreciating God's creation?
The NLT Study Bible describes Psalm 104 as a "creation hymn that exalts God's goodness and majesty." This hymn not only exalts God but also gives us another glimpse of how much God loves us. The world and all its unique, bizarre creatures were a gift to us. God desires us to be fascinated by His wonderful handiwork, and for that work to turn us to Him.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
There is a special connection we have with God when we take the time to appreciate His creativity. Here are some ideas to help you stop and admire.
- Sit looking at a tree, plant, or a even a pet and read Psalm 104 out loud.
- Tell God three things you admire in His creation.
- Sit in silence and listen to, smell, and feel God's handiwork around you.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and our story to others?
We live in a world where seeing is believing, and God has given us an amazing panorama to remind us He is there and that He loves us.
- Next time you're walking with a friend in a park or, watching a TV show about the outdoors share with your friend how you see God in creation.
- Share with someone how God loved us so much he gave us this beautiful work of art (earth) to enjoy!
- February 2012 [5]
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- December 2008 [23]
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- July 2006 [10]
- June 2006 [3]
