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Over 1000 Species of Bizarre Animals and Insects Discovered in Mekong Jungles

BANGKOK (FAN)— Scientists have now discovered more than 1,000 unique and rare animal and insect species in the jungles and landscape of the Mekong region of Southeast Asia (over the last decade). Discoveries have  included a spider with a leg span that is larger than a dinner plate , said the World Wildlife Fund on Monday.

Other discoveries include a rat that was previously believed to have been extinct for more than 10 million years and shockingly pink millipede that emits the deadly toxin cianide as a defense mechanism.

“It doesn’t get any better than this,” said Stuart Chapman, director of World WildLife Fund’s Greater Mekong Program.

“We thought discoveries of this scale were confined to the history books.”

Hunstman Spider Devouring a Beetle

The Dangerous Dragon Millipede

Click here to see more images of the Mekong region’s new species from BBC News. The Greater Mekong region consists of the rainforests and wetlands that run along the Mekong River of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the southern Chinese province of Yunnan.

Or, click on the image below to see the Top 10 New Species from LiveScience.com

Top 10 New Species