Walking Fish Found on the Wild Side

A monkey, nicknamed "snubby" by scientists, has been discovered in the remote forests of northern Burma after locals told them to listen out for the sneezing when it rained.  

The monkey sneezes when rainwater gets caught in its up-turned nose, according to a report on wildlife in Nepal, Bhutan, northern Burma, southern Tibet and north-eastern India.

Other whacky sounding discoveries include a blue-eyed frog, a lance-headed pit viper snake and a walking fish which can survive on land for up to four days, wriggling through wet ground between water.

The discovery of a sneezing monkey and a wriggling fish sounds cool and whacky — but it also has a serious side, according to Heather Sohl, WWF-UK's chief adviser of species.

"These discoveries show that there is still a huge amount to learn about the species that share our world."

The report also warns that the survival of the 133 new plants, 26 species of fish, ten amphibians, one reptile, one bird and one mammal in the Eastern Himalayas is under threat from climate change, population growth, poaching, mining, deforestation and the development of hydroelectric dams.

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

Here's hoping "snubby" will live to sneeze for evermore.