Francisco Sornoza of Ecuador's Instituto Nacional de Biodiversida, first observed and photographed a previously unknown hillstar during fieldwork in southwest Ecuador in April 2017. They dubbed the new species Oreotrochiluscyanolaemus, or the Blue-throated Hillstar, for its iridescent blue throat. Threats to its habitat include fire, grazing, and gold mining, and it meets the criteria to be considered critically endangered. "Complete support from national and international conservation agencies is needed, in order to save this species," says co-author Francisco Sornoza-Molina. "The location is fitting for a new species of hillstar, because it's a remote, high mountain range that is isolated and is sandwiched between the ranges of two other hillstar species.

Source: Daily News Egypt September 26, 2018 08:15 UTC