<p><br /> More than 1,200 new species of plants and animals have been discovered in the Amazon over the past decade - a new species every three days.<br /> </p><p><br /> The new species include 637 plants, 257 fish, 216 amphibians, 55 reptiles, 16 birds and 39 mammals, confirming that the Amazon is one of the most diverse places on Earth.<br /> </p><p><br /> Among the findings are the first new species of anaconda identified since 1936, a frog with a colourful head, a parrot with a bald head, the Bolivian river dolphin and a purple tarrantula.<br /> </p><p><br /> Scientists say the rate of discovery of new species is astounding and note that the statistsics don't account for insect groups, where discoveries are almost too many to count.<br /> </p><p><br /> Whilst many parts of the Amazon remain relatively undisturbed, threats to the region are rapidly increasing.<br /> </p><p><br /> During the last 50 years humankind has caused the destruction of at least 17 per cent of the Amazon rainforest - an area twice the size of Spain.<br /> </p>
