New species from depths of the ocean and animals rediscovered in the Himalayas: See them
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Unique creatures, odd animals and new species are discovered across the planet. Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses.
Learn more about some of the best new discoveries:
'Fanged' creatures — discovered in the dark — are new species in Indonesia. See them
In the Meratus mountain range of Indonesia, researchers discovered two new species of fanged frogs, Limnonectes maanyanorum and Limnonectes nusantara. These frogs were found under the cover of darkness along streams and are known for their distinctive vampire-like fangs. | Published Jan. 31 | Read More |
'Elusive' creature was missing in Himalayas for 91 years — until angler caught one
The Channa amphibeus, a snakehead fish thought to be extinct, was rediscovered in West Bengal, India, after being missing for 91 years. This rare fish, known for its vibrant colors and unique features, was found in the Kalimpong District, nestled between Nepal and Bhutan. | Published Feb. 3 | Read More |
Colorful creature found 'basking' in sun on uninhabited island. It's a new species
On Scawfell Island off Australia's northeastern coast, a new species of skink, Lampropholis isla, was discovered basking in the sun. This vibrant lizard, known as the Scawfell Island sun skink, was found in the island's rainforest areas. | Published Jan. 30 | Read More |
Spiky 'large'-eyed creature found hunting near windmills in India. It's a new species
In Maharashtra, India, a new species named Amarasinghe's house gecko, or Hemidactylus amarasinghei, was found near the Chalkewadi Windmill Farm. This spiky, medium-sized gecko was discovered in rocky patches and is notable for its 'large' brown eyes. | Published Feb. 3 | Read More |
'Long' purple sea creature — with 24 'feet' — pulled from depths. It's a new species
A new species of sea cucumber, Laetmogone multiradiolus, was discovered in the Kermadec Trench in the South Pacific Ocean. This 'long,' purple creature with 24 tube feet was found 3.5 miles deep in the ocean. | Published Jan. 31 | Read More |
McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery of the most unusual and intriguing new species. Check back for the latest studies.
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Miami Herald
16 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Battle to eradicate invasive pythons in Florida achieves stunning milestone
A startling milestone has been reached in Florida's war against the invasive Burmese pythons eating their way across the Everglades. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida reports it has captured and humanely killed 20 tons of the snakes since 2013, including a record 6,300 pounds of pythons killed this past breeding season, according to a June 9 news release. To put that in perspective, 20 tons — or 40,000 pounds — is a mound of snakes the size of a fire truck ... or a fully loaded city bus. What's startling is those 1,400 snakes didn't come from a statewide culling. They came from a 200-square-mile area in southwestern Florida, the conservancy reports. The greater Everglades ecosystem, where the snakes are thriving, covers more than 7,800 square miles, according to wildlife biologist Ian Bartoszek, the Conservancy Science Project Manager who oversees the python program. It's estimated tens of thousands of pythons are roaming the region, the U.S. Geological Survey says. 'I guess the real question is what did it take in native animals to make 20 tons of python? ... It still amazes me how big these animals get and how many of them are out there,' Bartoszek told McClatchy News in a phone interview. 'Pythons have indeterminate growth and the more they eat, the larger they become. On this project we have captured the largest female by weight at just under 18 (feet) but weighing a massive 215 pounds and the largest male at 16 (feet) and 140 pounds. Their size is a reflection of the available prey base. We probably grow them larger in Southwest Florida because we still have deer and medium-sized mammals for them to prey upon. In portions of the eastern Everglades, it is likely the reverse.' University of Florida researchers have identified 85 species of birds and mammals (including reptiles) that are being eaten by pythons in the Everglades, leading to fears they are decimating some native mammal populations, Bartoszek says. Southwestern Florida's wetlands are like a buffet for pythons, putting the region and the conservancy on the front lines. It's only with the help of technology that the conservancy has gained ground since starting the python program in 2013, Bartoszek says. This includes a scout snake program that fits radio telemetry trackers on 40 male pythons, so they can be tracked to reproductive females during mating season (November through April). Those females are humanely euthanized and the tagged males are freed to track down more females. The program has prevented more than 20,000 python eggs from hatching, the conservancy says. 'Long-term monitoring has shown signs of positive effectiveness of these efforts, as scout snakes increasingly struggle to locate mates or the females they find are smaller in size,' the conservancy says. Bartoszek's team, which includes biologist Ian Easterling, made headlines in 2024 when it walked up on a 115-pound python swallowing a 77-pound deer. That amounted to 66.9% of the snake's body mass and proved they are eating larger prey in Florida. The female python captured and swallowed the live deer in less than an hour, the team concluded. Among the other disconcerting discoveries made: The snakes are expanding their range. They are well established in counties along Florida's southeastern and southwestern coasts and sightings are now being reported near Lake Okeechobee, Bartoszek says. That's about a 110-mile drive northwest from Miami. 'The Burmese python always continues to surprise me and I have an internal memory reel of all the firsts we have seen on the project. The most visceral ones are when we see first hand what they are consuming,' Bartoszek said. 'But those are counterbalanced by seeing native wildlife fighting back, like when we discovered a bobcat that had predated upon one of our scout snakes. Or when we had tracked hatchling pythons over many summers and would eventually be tracking the predators that consumed them, including an endangered eastern Indigo snake. Those feels like wins for the home team when you get to see the Everglades fighting back.' Burmese pythons are native to southeastern Asia, but they began appearing in Florida in the 1970s, according to the South Florida Water Management District. It's suspected the snakes were pets, and they were either released by their owners or escaped captivity, the district says. 'The Burmese python is decimating native wildlife across their invaded range. ... The python team's work of reducing the local population of the invasive snake allows our native wildlife safer conditions to recover,' said Rob Moher, Conservancy of Southwest Florida president and CEO. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is an environmental organization based in Naples that works to protect natural resources and wildlife in Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. It collaborates with the U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, University of Florida, Florida Fish and Wildlife, South Florida Water Management District, Rookery Bay Research Reserve and Naples Zoo.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Miami Herald
‘Armored' creatures with ‘whip' tails and four other new species discoveries
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Unique creatures, odd animals and new species are being discovered across the planet. Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses. Learn more about some recent new species discoveries: 'Armored' creature with 'whip'-like tail pulled from river. It's a new species In southeastern Brazil, researchers discovered a new species named Rineloricaria buckupi, or Buckup's whiptail catfish, in the rivers near Rio de Janeiro. This 'armored' catfish, covered in body plates and sporting a 'whip'-like tail, was found in shallow streams often near bridges and highways. | Published May 30 | Read More | Camouflaged creature found in 'sacred forests' of Madagascar. It's a new species In the 'sacred forests' of southern Madagascar, scientists discovered the Paragehyra tsaranoro, or Tsaranoro half-padded gecko. This camouflaged creature, with its 'flattened' body and 'rounded' snout, was found in forest fragments surrounding the Andringitra Massif. The species is considered critically endangered due to its limited distribution and ongoing habitat threats. | Published June 2 | Read More | 'Large'-tongued creature found in water tank at India home. It's a new species In northeastern India, researchers discovered the Amolops shillong, or Shillong cascade frog, perched inside a water tank in the city of Shillong. These frogs, with 'large' tongues and 'fluorescent green' sides, were found in urban habitats, showcasing their adaptation to human-modified environments. The species faces threats due to being harvested for its meat. | Published June 3 | Read More | 2-foot-long ocean predator with 'blade-like' teeth discovered as a new species Off the southern coast of India, scientists identified a new species called Iago gopalakrishnani, or the Indian houndshark, after it was accidentally caught by shrimp trawlers. This deep-sea predator, with 'blade-like' teeth and 'slender' bodies, was found in the Arabian Sea. The species is named in honor of a marine fish geneticist for his contributions to fish conservation. | Published June 4 | Read More | Pregnant creature with 'large' golden eyes found in Cambodia. It's a new species In western Cambodia, researchers discovered the Cyrtodactylus kampingpoiensis, or Kamping Poi bent-toed gecko, on rocky karst hills in the Banan District. This gecko, with 'large' golden eyes and 'bent' toes, was found in unexplored rock formations, indicating the region's undocumented biodiversity. The species was named after the hill where it was first discovered. | Published June 4 | Read More | McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery and sightings of unusual and intriguing species. Check back for the latest stories.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Miami Herald
Viking's silver treasure, an ancient Korean crown and three more discoveries
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Throughout history, cultures have left behind a trail of breadcrumbs for archaeologists to follow. New sites and artifacts are found all the time, revealing forgotten secrets of the past. Here are some of the latest discoveries: 1,400-year-old crown — still decorated with insect wings — found in South Korea In Gyeongju, South Korea, archaeologists uncovered a 1,400-year-old crown adorned with jewel beetle wings from the Silla Kingdom. This ornate crown, found in a burial site, is a first-of-its-kind discovery in the region. The crown's intricate decorations, including gold beads and jade pieces, highlight the craftsmanship of the era. | Published May 22 | Read More | Hobbyist studying old map notices odd mark that leads to medieval find in Sweden In Derome, Sweden, a hobby archaeologist discovered the remains of a medieval monastery using an 18th-century map and modern technology. The site, likely dating back to the late 12th century, revealed thick walls and pillar foundations. This find sheds light on the region's monastic history and the Order of Cistercians. | Published May 22 | Read More | Students locate ancient Roman army camp beyond empire's northern border. See it In the Netherlands, university students discovered a rare ancient Roman military camp beyond the empire's northern border. Using computer models and LiDAR surveys, they confirmed the presence of Roman walls and a moat near Hoog Buurlo. | Published May 28 | Read More | Viking-era silver treasures found on farm in Sweden and restored. See them shine In Täby, Sweden, archaeologists unearthed a collection of Viking-era silver treasures, including arm rings, necklaces and coin pendants. The site, occupied for 500 years, also revealed structures from the Viking Age. The silver collection is notable for its size and preservation. | Published May 30 | Read More | Ancient waste shows surprising 'luxury' food item was not only for Roman elite In Pollentia, Mallorca, researchers found evidence of thrushes, a luxury food item, being sold by street vendors in ancient Rome. The discovery in a cesspit challenges the belief that thrushes were exclusive to elite banquets. This find suggests that thrushes were a common part of the urban diet in Roman times. | Published June 3 | Read More | McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery of intriguing archaeological discoveries from around the globe. Check back to see the latest finds.
