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Miami Herald
04-04-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Feathers of ‘fire' and species once thought extinct: See new animal 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 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 discoveries: Rare species — once declared extinct in the wild — rediscovered in French Polynesia On a small island in the South Pacific Ocean, the Moorean viviparous tree snail, once declared extinct in the wild, has been rediscovered. This species, native to French Polynesia, was decimated by the invasive rosy wolf snail but has been successfully reintroduced into its natural habitat thanks to conservation efforts. The discovery of wild-born snails suggests successful breeding, marking a significant milestone in reversing biodiversity loss. | Published March 28 | Read More | 'Large'-mouthed aquarium pet turns out to be new species in India. See the creature In northeastern India, a new species of fish named Channa nachi, or Farham's snakehead fish, has been discovered in a river in Meghalaya. This 'dwarf' fish, reaching about 5 inches in length, was identified by its unique coloring and large mouth. The species was initially mistaken for another and exported to Japan, highlighting the importance of accurate species identification. | Published March 31 | Read More | Armless creature with clawed toes found in Australian outback. It's a new species In the Gulf Plains Bioregion of northern Queensland, Australia, researchers have uncovered a new species of lizard called Lerista karichigara, or the Tagalaka slider. These armless lizards, with clawed toes and an angular snout, were found burrowing in the soil near trees. The discovery highlights the biodiversity of the region and the potential for finding more new species. | Published March 31 | Read More | Rare creature was elusive for years. Then it reappeared on trail camera — with cubs In Thailand's Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary, a female tiger known as F22 was spotted on camera with her two cubs, marking a hopeful sign for the local tiger population. First seen in 2022, F22 had eluded researchers until recent images confirmed her presence and that of her healthy cubs. This sighting suggests successful conservation efforts in the region. | Published April 1 | Read More | Rare creature — with feathers of 'fire' — captured on trail camera in Malaysia. See it In Malaysia, the critically endangered Malay Crestless Fireback pheasant was captured on a trail camera in the Ulu Sat Forest Reserve. Known for its striking fiery plumage, this rare bird faces threats from habitat loss and is dependent on ground-level forests. The sighting underscores the urgent need for conservation to prevent its extinction. | Published April 2 | Read More | McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery of the most unusual and intriguing new species. Check back for the latest studies.
Miami Herald
28-03-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Rare species — once declared extinct in the wild — rediscovered in French Polynesia
On a small island in the South Pacific Ocean, a rare species once declared extinct in the wild has been rediscovered. Partula tohiveana, or the Moorean viviparous tree snail, was native to French Polynesia before its wild population was decimated by the rosy wolf snail, a carnivorous and invasive species. In the mid-1980s, the species was officially declared extinct in the wild, the final classification before complete extinction, including in captivity. For the last 40 years, the tree snail survived in 'carefully controlled' environments in about a dozen zoos as part of a decades-long international conservation effort to restore the species to its native habitat, according to a March 27 news release from the Zoological Society of London. Now, thanks to those efforts, the species has been downgraded to critically endangered by the IUCN Red List, conservationists said. In 2015, participating zoos began releasing the snails back into the forests of French Polynesia, marked with an animal-safe UV paint for tracking purposes, according to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. In 2024, after more than 24,000 snails of various Partula species were reintroduced, conservationists made the 'groundbreaking discovery' of wild-born adult Moorean viviparous tree snails, suggesting the species is successfully breeding in its natural habitat, researchers said. 'Seeing a species return from the brink after years of collaborative effort is exactly why we do what we do,' said Paul Pearce-Kelly, senior curator of invertebrates at the Zoological Society of London and head of the international Partula conservation program. 'The resilience of these snails shows what can be achieved when conservationists, governments, and local communities work together to reverse biodiversity loss,' Pearce-Kelly said in the release. Many Partula snail species went extinct in French Polynesia after the rosy wolf snail was introduced to the islands to control the giant African land snail population, experts said. Instead of preying on the intended target, the rosy wolf snail showed a preference for the small Partula snails, conservationists said. Experts said the rosy wolf snail is still present in French Polynesia, but is now rare due to the arrival of another predator — the New Guinea flatworm, Mongabay reported. Scientists said the flatworm, which hunts primarily on the ground, should not pose a major threat to the tree-dwelling Partula snails, the outlet reported. Partula snails give birth to live young, the size of a pen tip, about every six weeks, according to a species profile from National Geographic. It takes them up to six months to reach sexual maturity, experts said.
