Species Identification through DNA Barcoding
Discovery of a new species of weaver
The fascinating biodiversity of the rainforests is always good for surprises. Recently, a new species of the weaver's foot weaver genus Taito was discovered and described in the Peruvian Amazon. The research and identification of this species was made possible by our use of DNA barcoding. The discovery of this new species not only contributes to the understanding of tropical rainforest biodiversity, but also demonstrates the importance of modern genetic techniques in taxonomy and species identification.
Native to lowland rainforest
The newly discovered species Taito adrik sp. nov. was described during a study in the Área de Conservación Privada (ACP) Panguana in the Peruvian Amazon. This discovery extends the range of the genus Taito to the southwest.
Between 2009 and 2018, a total of 35 specimens of the new Taito species were collected in the lowland rainforest of the Panguana region. From each specimen, a portion of a leg with muscle tissue was used for DNA extraction and subsequent sequencing. We successfully barcoded six samples. The DNA sequences were published in the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD) and are available to the scientific community.
Leading the way for future research
The discovery and description of new species is of great importance for the understanding of biodiversity and evolution. The application of DNA barcoding has not only enabled the identification and description of this species, but also provided genetic sequence data that can play an important role in future studies and analyses.
Arrange a consultation on species identification or go back to overview