A female specimen of Otus bikegila.
About18,000 new speciesare described scientifically each year.
Estimates suggest millions more remain unknown.
A female specimen of Otus bikegila. (Photo: Melo, Figure 12,Melo et al./ZooKeys)
Announced inZooKeys, the small bird is likely critically endangered, but utterly adorable.
I was studying the grey parrot population of Principe Island with a local parrot harvester, Bikegila.
I immediately thought about owls, Melo toldTreehugger.
The new species illustrated in two possible feather tones. (Photo: Figure 19, artwork by MNC,Melo et al./ZooKeys)
NamedOtus bikegilaafter the parrot expert (now a park ranger), the species has now been formally described.
However, much is still unknown about the creature, as it has avoided notice for decades.
A particular threat that worries us are the plans to build a hydroelectric dam.
Príncipe Island, the home of Otus bikegila. (Photo: A Alexandre Vaz B MM., Figure 110,Melo et al./ZooKeys)
This will require construction work inside the park in an area where the owl is present.
Despite their potential future threats, researchers are excited by the find.
Otherwise, it is fascinating as most owls, Melo said.
A new scops-owl species namedOtus bikegilahas been described on Principe Island, off the coast of Africa.
The new species illustrated in two possible feather tones.
Principe Island, the home of Otus bikegila.
