Sneezing monkey blows its cover

Snub-nosed Monkey. Photo / Getty Images

A monkey which sneezes in the rain and a "walking" fish are among more than 200 new species discovered in the Eastern Himalayas in recent years.

A report on wildlife in Nepal, Bhutan, the far north of Burma, southern Tibet and northeastern India has revealed the discovery in the past five years of 133 plants, 26 species of fish, 10 amphibians, one reptile, one bird and one mammal.

The discoveries include a new bird named the spotted wren-babbler, a striking blue-eyed frog and a lance-headed pit viper snake with an ornate yellow, red and orange pattern that could pass for a piece of jewellery, conservation organisation WWF said.

And scientists learned of the snub-nosed monkey - or "Snubby" as they nicknamed the species - from locals in the remote forests of northern Burma, who said it was easy to find when it was raining because it often got rainwater in its upturned nose, causing it to sneeze.

To avoid the problem, snub-nosed monkeys spend rainy days sitting with their heads tucked between their knees, the report said.

Among the new fish found is a vibrant blue dwarf "walking" snakehead fish, found in West Bengal, India, which breathes air, can survive on land for up to four days and can wriggle nearly half a kilometre over wet ground between bodies of water.

The report also warns of threats facing the newly-discovered species, with just a quarter of the original habitats in the region still intact and hundreds of plants and animals living in the area considered to be threatened.

Climate change is the most serious threat, while population growth, deforestation, poaching, mining, overgrazing, wildlife trade, pollution and development of hydroelectric dams are all putting pressure on nature in the Eastern Himalayas.

Heather Sohl, WWF-UK's chief adviser of species, said: "These discoveries show that there is still a huge amount to learn about the species that share our world.

"It is a stark reminder that if we don't act now to protect these fragile ecosystems, untold natural riches could be lost forever."