Discovery of New Species: Biodiversity in Canary Islands

Discovery of New Species: Biodiversity in Canary Islands

Question: The underground environment of the Canary Islands is one of the hottest biodiversity spots in the world. Discuss in light of the recent discovery of a new species of beetle here.

• Two scientists from Spain have discovered a new species of beetle referred to as Oromia thoracica in the underground biodiverse system of the Canary Islands

About the Discovery

• The blind weevil discovered is brown and grey in colour. It has a flat body and thorax which covers its head almost, to adapt to underground life

• In recent times, the Canary Islands have become the destination for many new discoveries

• New species of spiders, millipedes, psuedoscorpions, cockroaches, and beetles have been found mainly in the depths of the Agaete valley, on the northwest part of Gran Canaria.

• This area is home to some of the oldest soil on the island from the Miocene epoch between 23 and 5 million years ago

• The new species of weevil was discovered in the subsoil in the small area of the valley which recently experienced a volcanic eruption

• This underground world has much rich discoveries in store for researchers

• New beetle is less than 5 millimetres long and longer than genus of other species native to the Canary Islands.

Facts and Stats

• Oromia genus is also relatively recent discovery.
• It was discovered in 1987
• A new species is discovered every 6 days on the island
• This rate is decreasing however
• The Gran Canaria is still one of the hottest biodiversity hotspots in the world