From Dwarfs to Giants: Exploring the Seychelles Islands

Researchers on an expedition to the Seychelles have discovered a new species of frog never seen before in the islands.

The team were undertaking surveys of two islands in the Seychelles, Silhouette and North Islands, as part of a five-year project to assess the conservation needs of the region.

Thousands of samples of plant and animal life have already been collected, including the new frog and a hummingbird hawkmoth, which was thought to be extinct.

Dr Justin Gerlach, an affiliated researcher at Cambridge University's Department of Zoology, said the project was vital for carrying out conservation work and would also provide a unique resource for the study of island biogeography.

He said: "We need to know more about the biodiversity of these islands before we can work out what conservation measures should be taken. This is particularly important now, because of the expansion of development on the islands and the decline of historical land management practices."

The project is not due to be completed until 2005 and during that time, it is expected that many new animal species will be discovered.

"We have already collected a large number of important island records, new species and rediscoveries," added Dr Gerlach. "The most remarkable discoveries so far have been the frog, which belongs to the Sooglossus species, a kind of frog which lays eggs on land and carries its tadpoles on its back, and the hummingbird hawkmoth, which has not been sighted since 1892."

Dr Gerlach will be discussing the progress made so far in the project in a public talk at Cambridge University, presented as part of the Cambridge Discovery Series. 'From dwarfs to giants: exploring the Seychelles Islands', will take place on Thursday 25 January 2001, at 7.00pm in the Department of Earth Sciences Common Room, Downing Street (entrance is next to the steps to the Sedgwick Museum). Doors will be open from 6.30pm and admission is free.

Talks or events forming part of the Cambridge Discovery series will take place every other Thursday during the Lent Term between 11 January 2001 and 5 April 2001. A new series of talks will start in the Easter Term. For more information and a leaflet contact Museums Outreach Officer, Dale Johnston, on 01223 331104 or email him on drj30@cam.ac.uk

The Cambridge Discovery series is supported by the National Lottery and produced by Cambridge University Museums of Human and Natural Sciences.

Further information on the museums
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
Museum of Zoology
Sedgwick Museum
Whipple Museum of the History of Science