Latest news with #KhumbuHimal
Miami Herald
16-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Deep-sea creatures and ‘accordion-like' animals: See latest new species
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 recent new species discoveries: 'Large'-headed creature with spiny skin found on Nepal peak. It's a new species In the remote mountains of Nepal, researchers have identified a new species of frog known as the Khumbu Himal lazy toad, or Scutiger khumbu. This medium-sized toad, found in the Khumbu region, is distinguished by its large, flat head and spiny skin. The discovery highlights the rich amphibian diversity within the Himalayan cloud forests and suggests the possibility of 'even more undiscovered' species. | Published May 8 | Read More | Deep-sea creature with 'massive eyes' discovered in canyon. It's a new species A new species of octopus, the Carnarvon flapjack octopus, has been discovered in the depths of the Indian Ocean off the coast of Australia. This gelatinous creature, known for its massive eyes and long arms, was found during an expedition by the CSIRO. The octopus inhabits underwater canyons at depths of 3,400 to 5,000 feet. | Published May 13 | Read More | Divers catch 'accordion-like' creature off coast of Spain. It's a new species Off the coast of Galicia, Spain, divers have discovered a new species of ribbon worm named Pararosa vigarae, or the accordion worm. This unique marine worm can contract its body to one-fourth of its full size and is known for its venomous nature. The species was named in honor of the senior author's wife, Rosa Vigara. | Published May 7 | Read More | Clawed black-eyed creature found hiding under rock in Zambia. It's a new species In the woodlands of northeastern Zambia, scientists have uncovered a new species of lizard called Margarita's scrub lizard, or Nucras margaritae. This moderately sized lizard, with its large black eyes and clawed limbs, was discovered during an ant survey. The species was named in memory of a late colleague, Margarita Metallinou. | Published May 9 | Read More | Bone discovered in ancient layer of Cuban cave belonged to a new extinct species In the mountains of western Cuba, researchers have unearthed the bone of a new extinct species of duck, the Cuban teal, or Amazonetta cubensis. This discovery, made in El Abrón Cave, provides insight into the distribution of Amazonetta ducks during the Quaternary period. The Cuban teal is closely related to the Brazilian teal. | Published May 12 | Read More | McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery and sightings of the most unusual and intriguing species. Check back for the latest stories.
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).'
