See Some of the Over 200 Newly Discovered Himalayan Animals

Channa Andrao, a vibrant blue ‘walking’ dwarf snakehead fish, was discovered in the Lefraguri swamp in West Bengal, raising the number of snakehead species endemic to the Eastern Himalayas to ten. Snakeheads breath air and can survive on land for up to four days. They have been known to “walk” up to a quarter mile between bodies of water.Henning Strack Hansen

The spotted wren-babbler (Elachura Formosa) was found in thick undergrowth in the dense forests of the Eastern Himalayas. Elachura Formosa belongs to a unique family of birds which contain no other known species. According to researchers, males have an unusual high-pitched song, unlike those of other Asian birds. Researchers were able to identify the species by analysing the molecular differences in the DNA of Elachura, which revealed their evolutionary heritage.Ramki Sreenivasan Conservation India

The Impatiens lohitensis is a new species of wild banana discovered in India, now home to 23 different species of banana.R. Gogoi/S. Borah

Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh, the second most heavily forested state in India, the Leptobrachium Bompu frog is characterized by its greyish-blue iris with a vertically oriented black pupil. L. bompu has black bands on its limbs, feet, digits and upper lip, as well as irregular dark markings on its dorsal surface.Sanjay Sondhi

The Musa Markkui is a new species of wild banana discovered in India, now home to 23 different species of banana.R. Gogoi/S. Borah

The Himalayan lance-headed pit viper (Protobothrops Himalayansus) discovered in parts of India, Tibet and Bhutan, is unique for its striking yellow, red and orange coloring and its ability to lay 20–30 eggs in one clutch. Toxic to humans, the snake subsists on a diet of rodents, lizards, amphibians, birds, and even fellow pit vipers. The snakes have also exhibited some extraordinary behavior – upon being caught by scientists, a pair of snakes killed themselves with their own fangs.Liang Zhang

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