New species found in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Center for the Environment of Bosnia and Herzegovina has announced the discovery of a new species of insect found in the Neretva River.

Originating at an altitude of 1095 m above sea level, the Neretva carries its waters through deep canyons, gradually descending to the Adriatic Sea. Unlike other rivers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which often disappear in the karst rocks of the local mountains, the Neretva does not disappear - for 225 km it absorbs numerous tributaries running along the Dinaric Highlands, covered with broad-leaved and coniferous forests.

All these wild places are distinguished by a wide variety of fauna, and karst caves are a favorite haven for bats, cave fish and crustaceans.

It was the biodiversity of these places that attracted the attention of a group of scientists from several countries. In the summer of 2022, a scientific landing party of fifty people thoroughly examined the Neretva water area, finding out that more than 1300 representatives of the animal world live in the emerald waters of the river, including 8 of them - previously unknown.

It took almost a year to officially confirm the status of at least one of the eight discovered strangers. And so it happened: the other day, the Center for the Environment of Bosnia and Herzegovina officially confirmed that a previously unexplored insect of the Diptera order exists on the planet. They named it Baeoura neretvaensis after the river where it lives.

The remaining 7 unidentified objects are still awaiting identification. So, perhaps soon our planet will be replenished with a few more new inhabitants.