A: At least one, if it’s a U. brucei.
Not glass. Not rubber. Not made in China. 100% All-American Salamander. Now in convenient "fun size". Courtesy University of Georgia.
Remember when I said we still don’t have a full idea of the terrestrial macrobiota (aka big living stuff) of the world? Here’s more proof.
This little guy was discovered only in 2007. Right next to a road. In broad daylight. In Georgia. This was not deepest, darkest, remotest Africa we’re talking about here.
The species, the adorably named patch-nosed salamander (with the slightly less adorable scientific name Urspelerpes brucei), was so different from anything else known that scientists gave it its own new genus (whose name seems to be a cross between Urkel and Purple Nurple). That makes it the first new tetrapod genus in America in 50 years. And there could be more.
There are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of unnamed and unknown *visible* fungi, plants, insects, etc., right here in North America. In your state. In your county. Now when you think of the problem in the ocean or rainforest you can see how many species are biting it before we even get a chance to know they’re there.
But not our little friend here. Thankfully, if he ever goes the way of the leisure suit, we can at least tell our children what he looked like.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
You say the name Urspelerpes brucei isn’t adorable? C’mon! It’s practically the Latin version of puppy-dog eyes! At least, the genus name sounds way sexier than you’re giving it credit for.
OK, I grant you that it has puppy-dog-esque qualities. But it just doesn’t have the rag-doll cachet of patch-nosed salamander. And I just can’t feel that the word “sexy” could ever belong in the same sentence with “Ursperlerpes.” : )