Tuesday, February 7, 2017

New Species of 2016

Eulophophyllum kirki, a new katydid from Borneo first identified from a photograph, rather than the usual dead specimen.

Cheirogaleus shethi, a new species of dwarf lemur from the dry forests of  Madagascar. This animal was actually discovered in 2014, but it took until recently for DNA studies to prove that it is really a new species.


Parafimbrios lao, the Ziggy Stardust snake, and Tylototriton anguliceps, the Klingon Newt, two new species from the Mekong Delta.

Drosera magnifica, a giant sundew from Brazil, the first new species identified from a biologist's post on Facebook.

An as-yet unnamed species of jellyfish discovered in the Marianas Trench, nicknamed the spaceship.

Murina kontumensis, a new species of Woolly-Headed Bat

Umma gumma, new species of damselfly discovered in Africa by Pink Floyd fans. This was published in an article that announced 60 new species of damselflies and dragonflies, the greatest total from a single publication in decades.

Acanthosaura phuketensis, the Phuket horned tree agamid, a medium-sized lizard from Phuket Island off Thailand.

Aphonopelma johnnycashithe, Johnny Cash Tarantula (because it wears black and was discovered near Folsom Prison).

Sirdavidia solannona, a new species of flowering tree discovered by the side of a road in a popular national park in Gabon, under the noses of park rangers, biologists, and everyone else.

Gekko bonkowskii, discovered in the remote mountains of Laos.

Illacme tobini, a millipede with 414 legs, no eyes, 200 poison glands, and four penises. Take that, world.

1 comment:

Katya said...

My son adores these posts of yours, John. A great reminder!