Latest news with #EuropeanJournalofTaxonomy
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Science
- Miami Herald
Five-armed creature — covered in ‘axes' — found off Taiwan. See the new species
In the rocky intertidal zones along the coast of Taiwan, a five-armed creature scuttles along the seafloor. Its brown, green and black body blends in with the colorful rocks as it glides across the bottom. The animal is a brittle star — and a new species. Brittle stars, or ophiurida, may look like classic starfish, but their long and flexible arms set them apart from their more rigid cousins. They can move quickly thanks to muscles that move a series of vertebrae-like structures linked together with ball-and-socket joints, according to the University of California at Berkeley. The new brittle star was collected off the southern coast of Taiwan and around a few barrier islands, according to a study published June 6 in the peer-reviewed European Journal of Taxonomy. The animal's central structure, or dorsal disc, is 'covered with fine granules,' according to the study, while the arms are covered in spines. The long arms are made up of spiny plates that fit together like puzzle pieces, photos show. The pattern on the arms also gives the new species its name, researchers said. Breviturma securis, or the axe brittle star, derives its name from the Latin word 'securis' meaning axe, 'referencing the axe-shaped dark patterns on the dorsal arm plates,' according to the study. The body as a whole is 'yellowish-gray to greenish-gray' with 'lighter and darker patches,' researchers said. 'These regions are adorned with discontinuous short dark lines that never form a reticular pattern,' according to the study. 'In juveniles, a dark 'star' may occasionally appear at the center of the disc but never connects to the arm base.' The brittle stars live in the sandy material below rocks from intertidal zones to shallow waters around 25 feet deep, researchers said. They are also commonly found in the same areas as other related brittle star species. Breviturma securis was previously misidentified as another species and appeared in a series of field guides and photographs under the wrong name, according to the study. The new research, with DNA confirmation, will allow these resources to be updated, researchers said. The holotype, or primary specimen used to describe the new species, was found in Taitung County on Taiwan's southeastern coast. The research team includes Kai Chang and Hsi-Te Shih.
Miami Herald
16-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Pregnant creature found in ‘rotting leaves' on Vietnam peak. It's a new species
As night stretched across a mountain in southern Vietnam, a pregnant creature waited under some 'rotting leaves.' But its hiding place wasn't hidden enough. Visiting scientists found the 'orange-tailed' animal — and discovered a new species. A team of researchers trekked up Tà Cú Mountain several times between 2018 and 2020 to search for wildlife. The 'isolated mountain' was already known to have three native species of lizard, so the team suspected it might have even more biodiversity, according to a study published May 14 in the peer-reviewed European Journal of Taxonomy. During their night hikes, researchers spotted some orange tails peeking out from the bushes and found several unfamiliar-looking lizards. They took a closer look at the lizards, tested their DNA and realized they'd discovered a new species: Scincella auranticaudata, or the orange-tailed ground skink. Orange-tailed ground skinks are considered 'medium'-sized, reaching about 6 inches in length, the study said. They have 'robust' bodies with 'short' snouts and yellow-tinged eyes. Photos show the coloring of the new species. Its upper body has a mixture of brown and bright orange becoming more brown toward the middle of its body then fading to pale orange on its tail. Some 'large black spots' also run down its back. Seen from below, it has a 'pink' and 'yellowish' belly. Researchers said they named the new species after the Latin words for 'orange-colored' and 'tail' because of its vibrant tail. Orange-tailed ground skinks were found at night 'on the ground among rotting leaves in evergreen forest on a mountain slope' at elevations of about 1,700 feet, researchers said. Two female skinks were found pregnant. Much about the lifestyle of orange-tailed ground skinks remains unknown. So far, the new species has only been found on Tà Cú Mountain, also spelled Ta Kou Mountain, in Bình Thuận Province of southern Vietnam and a roughly 105-mile drive east from Ho Chi Minh City. A 2021 YouTube video shared by 24 Go Somewhere shows a hike up Tà Cú Mountain. The new species was identified by its size, scale pattern, finger and toe shape, genitalia, coloring and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 9% genetic divergence from other related species. The research team included Sang Ngoc Nguyen, Luan Thanh Nguyen, Manh Van Le, Vu Dang Hoang Nguyen, Khanh Duy Phan, Thi-Dieu-Hien Vo, Robert Murphy and Jing Che. The team also discovered a second new species: the Hon Ba ground skink.
Miami Herald
14-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Black-eyed mountain creature found under debris in Vietnam. It's a new species
As night settled over a mountain in southern Vietnam, a black-eyed creature with a 'pointed' snout waited under some debris. But its hiding spot wasn't so hidden. Visiting scientists found the lurking animal — and discovered a new species. Researchers headed up Hon Ba Mountain in 2017 to survey wildlife, according to a study published May 14 in the peer-reviewed European Journal of Taxonomy. While 'removing tile debris' near the ranger station at the top of the mountain, they found an unfamiliar-looking lizard. Intrigued, researchers took a closer look at the lizard, analyzed its DNA and realized they discovered a new species: Scincella honbaensis, or the Hon Ba ground skink. The Hon Ba ground skink is considered 'relatively small,' reaching about 4 inches long, the study said. It has a 'rather compressed and slender' body with a 'relatively long and pointed' snout. Photos show the orange-brown coloring of the new species. Two rows of black spots run down its back, and its limbs look covered in white and black polka dots. Its stomach has a paler creamier hue. Much about the Hon Ba ground skink's lifestyle remains unknown. Only one skink was found at night in an 'evergreen forest with scattered rocks and thick layer of leaf litter' at an altitude of about 4,950 feet, the study said. Researchers said they named the new species after Hon Ba Mountain where it was discovered and, so far, the only place where it has been found. A 2015 YouTube video shared by Alex WelcomeTravel shows Hon Ba Mountain, which is a roughly 260-mile drive northeast from Ho Chi Minh City. The new species was identified by its scale pattern, finger and toe shape, coloring and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least about 17% genetic divergence from other related species. The research team included Sang Ngoc Nguyen, Luan Thanh Nguyen, Manh Van Le, Vu Dang Hoang Nguyen, Khanh Duy Phan, Thi-Dieu-Hien Vo, Robert Murphy and Jing Che. The team also discovered a second new species: the orange-tailed ground skink.
Miami Herald
08-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Large'-headed creature with spiny skin found on Nepal peak. It's a new species
Thousands of feet up on a mountain in Nepal sat a 'large'-headed creature with spiny skin. Its remote home and general appearance largely helped it go unnoticed and, when occasionally found, be misidentified. But, as some determined scientists recently discovered, it turned out to be a new species. A team of researchers set out to document wildlife in the Himalayas, 'one of the world's most biologically diverse regions' and an 'increasingly threatened' landscape, according to a study published May 6 in the peer-reviewed European Journal of Taxonomy. Researchers focused on a group of frogs known as lazy toads that are native to the Himalayas, the study said. They scoured museum archives, tested the DNA of preserved specimens and tracked down matching animals in remote areas of Nepal. Slowly, a pattern emerged; the frogs from Nepal's Khumbu region were distinctly and consistently different from any known species. Researchers realized they'd discovered a new species: Scutiger khumbu, or the Khumbu Himal lazy toad. Khumbu Himal lazy toads are considered 'medium'-sized, reaching over 2 inches in length, the study said. They have 'large and flat' heads with 'short' snouts, 'oval' tongues and 'large' black eyes. Their legs are 'long,' and their skin is covered in 'distinct' bumps with hard tips and, sometimes, one or two spines. Photos show the coloring of the new species, which is generally brown but 'can vary substantially from light to dark brown and even to olive.' Seen from below, the toads have a 'melon-yellow' belly with 'irregular gray-brown' markings. Khumbu Himal lazy toads were found in mountain forests at elevations of about 9,200 to 12,800 feet, the study said. Much about their lifestyle, diet and behavior remains unknown. Researchers said they named the new species after the Khumbu region of northeastern Nepal, 'also called the Everest region,' where it was first discovered and, so far, the only area where it has been found. The new species was identified by its DNA, body size, teeth, head shape, finger and toe shape, skin texture and coloring, the study said. Researchers considered some populations of the new species to be a new sub-species because of their visual similarity but genetic divergence. The research team included Sylvia Hofmann, Annemarie Ohler, Chitra Baniya, Alain Dubois, Morris Flecks, Daniel Jablonski, Joachim Schmidt and Christophe Dufresnes. The team said their research shows 'the remarkable amphibian diversity within Himalayan cloud forests, suggesting that they may harbor even more undiscovered (species).'
Miami Herald
06-02-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Sleeping creature with ‘dagger-like spines' found in Vietnam. It's a new species
As darkness settled over a forest of southern Vietnam, a 'long'-limbed creature with 'dagger-like spines' climbed into a shrub and fell asleep. But the night wouldn't be restful. Passing scientists found the snoozing creature — and discovered a new species. Researchers hiked into the mountains of Khanh Hoa Province and Phu Yen Province several times between 2022 and 2023 to survey wildlife, according to a study published Feb. 5 in the peer-reviewed European Journal of Taxonomy. During their visits, the team found a dozen unfamiliar-looking lizards, the study said. Intrigued, they took a closer look at the 'distinct' reptiles and quickly realized they'd discovered a new species: Acanthosaura cuongi, or Cuong's horned tree lizard. Cuong's horned tree lizards are considered 'moderately-sized,' reaching over 8 inches in length, the study said. They have 'slightly robust' bodies with 'relatively long' limbs. Their 'triangular' heads have yellowish eyes and a 'blueish gray' tongue. A row of 'dagger-like spines' runs down their backs. The new species varies in color, ranging from green to 'orange-yellow' and brown to 'purplish gray' but usually has brown blotches and a 'black eye patch,' researchers said and photos show. Overall, the lizards appear to blend in with their surroundings. Cuong's horned tree lizards live in forests at the base of a mountain range, the study said. They were found at night 'clinging to, and sleeping in shrubs, thin trunks of small trees, beneath dense forest canopy.' Photos show a few of these perches. Researchers said they named the new species after Cuong The Pham, a Vietnamese researcher focused on amphibians and reptiles, 'in recognition of his support' for their work and 'his great contributions to herpetological research in Vietnam.' So far, Cuong's horned tree lizards have been found at two sites in neighboring districts of Khanh Hoa Province and Phu Yen Province along the country's southeastern coast, the study said. Researchers did not provide the exact locations 'to avoid abuse.' The new species was identified by its body shape and size, coloring, spines, scale arrangement and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 11% genetic divergence from other related species. The research team included Hai Ngoc Ngo, Linh Tu Hoang Le, Tao Thien Nguyen, Tuan Minh Nguyen, Ngan Thi Nguyen, Tien Quang Phan, Truong Quang Nguyen, Thomas Ziegler and Dang Trong Do.
