Expedition to Madagascar’s Makira Forest yields rediscovery of rare species

In a groundbreaking expedition to Makira Forest, Madagascar's largest rainforest, a team of researchers and entomologists, backed by Re:wild and funded by the anti-extinction laboratory Colossal, has made significant strides in rediscovering species previously considered "lost to science."

This ambitious search, aimed at locating species not documented for over a decade, yielded remarkable results, including the rediscovery of a giant millipede known only from a 19th-century specimen.

Despite the success, the team faced challenges, with several species remaining elusive amid concerns over the forest's ongoing threats from agricultural expansion, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

When a new species is discovered in remote locations such as dense rainforests or high mountaintops, it can remain unrecorded for years. Isolated by challenging terrains like steep elevations, rivers, or thick vegetation, these species exist in a near-unknown world. Over time, it can become uncertain whether these creatures are still alive, prompting scientists to launch expeditions. Re:wild, an initiative funded by the anti-extinction lab Colossal, is dedicated to rediscovering these “lost” species, as detailed in a July 17 news release. This includes species that are not extinct and might have been seen by local communities but have not been documented in scientific studies for a long time. Recently, researchers, entomologists, and trail guides embarked on an expedition to Makira, Madagascar's largest rainforest, to search for 30 such "lost" species, according to the release.

“In the past, our Search for Lost Species typically focused on one or two species per expedition. However, we now know of 4,300 species worldwide that have not been documented in over a decade,” said Christina Biggs, a Re:wild officer. “Madagascar is renowned for its biodiversity, and Makira, being relatively unexplored, provided an ideal setting for us to test a new approach. We assembled a team of scientists to search for as many species as possible, and the results were promising.”

Among the 30 species targeted, the list included three mammals, three fish, seven reptiles, 12 insects, and five spiders. After five days of intense searching, local guides and fishermen played a crucial role in identifying all three fish species. They ventured into nearby communities, uncovering the Makira rainbow fish and capturing images of a fish with “iridescent scales and red highlights,” according to the release. The team also managed to rediscover several insect species, some not originally on the list, before encountering an unexpected find.

“I was particularly surprised and delighted to find that the giant millipede *Spirostreptus sculptus*, previously known only from a specimen described in 1897, is still present in Makira Forest,” said entomologist Dmitry Telnov. “The largest specimen we observed was an impressive female measuring 10.8 inches long.” *Spirostreptus* millipedes, sometimes referred to as “olive-striped” millipedes, can live up to five years and often exceed six inches in length, according to Ant’s Kingdom.

Despite successfully rediscovering 21 species, some remained elusive. The Masoala fork-marked lemur, last documented in 2004, and a large chameleon species missing since 2006, both evaded the research team. Additionally, researchers were unable to locate the dusky tetraka, a bird rediscovered in December 2022 on the opposite side of Makira.

“Although Makira is Madagascar's largest forest, it is under threat from agricultural expansion,” Re:wild noted. “The expedition team is concerned that species in this underexplored area may face significant population declines before scientists have the chance to study them.” Located in northeastern Madagascar, the Makira forest remains a vital and vulnerable part of the island’s rich biodiversity.