Posted by Rachel
This week, a new species of fish was discovered off the coast of Praia do Forte in Bahia, and is now being analyzed in Bahia to determine more details about the creature. 
The fish was found floating dead in the water, and was caught and brought on board a research boat. The strange-looking fish weighs 40 kilos and measures 1.8 meters in length. It has tiny, sharp teeth, and oddly, no scales. It is largely made up of body fat, with gelatin-like skin.
Researchers at the Federal University of Bahia will preserve the fish in formaldehyde and will also put the fish on display at the school’s Zoology Museum after it is analyzed.
Check out the BBC report and the Globo report on the new discovery!
Posted by Rachel
For today’s interactive feature, I’ve combined another interactive game online.
A baby jaguar between three and four months old was rescued in Amazonas state recently, and was turned over to authorities in Manaus. The baby lost his mother, most likely to hunters.
Globo Amazonia is now holding a naming contest for the little jaguar (onça-pintada). What do you think he should be named?
Leave your answer in the comments section here first (in English and/or Portuguese), and if you’d like to enter the Globo contest, leave a comment on the article there.
Posted by Rachel
Last week, scientists and others met at the science and technology fair held by the Sociedade Brasileira para o Progresso da Ciência (Brazilian Society for Scientific Progress) in Manaus, where there was a special exhibit with exotic spiders on display.
The star of the exhibit was a 20 centimeter-long tarantula (below), a member of the theraphosid family, which can grow up to 30 centimeters long. It is not harmful to humans, and feeds on rats, frogs, and other small animals. It can go up to six months without eating, and can live for up to fifteen years.
At the convention, scientists emphasized the need to study spiders–some of which are dangerous to humans–as to be better prepared in case of a bite or an accident.
Check out more of the creepy crawlers here! (not for arachnophobes!)
Posted by Rachel
Brazilian scientists have announced the discovery of a new subspecies of monkey, the Saguinus fuscicollis mura, discovered in the Amazon. Though it was originally spotted by scientists in 2007, the discovery was just published in the International Journal of Primatology last month. 
The very small subspecies, which usually weighs just 350 grams and stands 23 centimeters tall, was found along the BR-319, a defunct highway that connects Porto Velho, in Rondônia, with Manaus, in Amazônia. The monkey’s habitat is located between the Madeira River and Purus River, right near the abandoned road.
The subspecies is named after the Mura tribe of indigenous Brazilians who live in the area. It eats mostly insects and fruit, and can live in dense forest as well as open areas.
However, the Brazilian government plans to start reconstructing the nearby highway as a part of a nationwide development plan. Also, there are several industrial plants being constructed in the area. Scientists fear that the newly discovered monkey could be in danger of disappearing quickly, if its habitat is endangered by development.
Posted by Rachel
This week, a family found this in their house in a rural part of Goiás state:
The five meter-long, 75 kilo snake was captured by firemen and was brought to a wildlife treatment center. It will soon be released back into the wild. According to the authorities, there have been an increase in calls to rescue wildlife, due to more awareness about the environment.
For more pictures, click here.
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