Latest news with #Petrolisthes
Miami Herald
09-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
New species identified when it bites researcher's hand and 4 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. 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: Tick-infested creature bites researcher in Papua New Guinea. It's a new species On Sudest Island in southern Papua New Guinea, researchers identified a new snake species named Aspidomorphus dimorphus after a research assistant was bitten by it in 2004. This snake, found in the rainforest, is unique for its bimodal color patterns, with both orange and dark morphs being genetically identical. | Published May 2 | Read More | 'Silvery' river creature with 'unique' stripe turns out to be new species In a remote river in northern Brazil, scientists discovered a new fish species named Cyphocharax ivo, or Ivo's curimatid, during a 2005 survey. This small, 'silvery' fish with a 'unique' stripe was found in the Amapá state, near the border with French Guiana and Suriname. The species was named in honor of Ivo Silva dos Santos for his contributions to ichthyology. | Published May 5 | Read More | 'Long'-armed deep-sea creature with dozens of suckers discovered as new species In the depths of the Western Pacific Ocean, scientists discovered a new species of octopus named Grimpoteuthis feitiana, or Feitian's Dumbo octopus, during a 2017 expedition. Found at the Caroline Seamount, this 'semi-gelatinous' creature has 'long' arms covered in suckers and moves gracefully, reminiscent of the goddess Feitian. The octopus is adapted to survive in extreme deep-sea conditions. | Published May 6 | Read More | 'Porcelain'-like creature with 'large' claws found on island. It's a new species On an island in northeast India, researchers discovered Bhattacharya's porcelain crab, or Petrolisthes tanmayi, during a 2023 wildlife survey. This speckled crab with 'large' claws was found hiding under rocks and bricks in the mangrove forest of West Bengal. The species was named in honor of Tanmay Bhattacharya for his contributions to zoology. | Published May 6 | Read More | 'Giant' new species of fish found in disappearing roadside pond in Argentina In Argentina's Chaco National Park, researchers found a new species of giant killifish named Titanolebias calvinoi in a shallow, drying pond. This nearly 4-inch-long fishcan survive in temporary aquatic environments through remarkable adaptations like drought-resistant eggs. | Published May 6 | 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
06-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Porcelain'-like creature with ‘large' claws found on island. It's a new species
World 'Porcelain'-like creature with 'large' claws found on island. It's a new species Scientists found a 'porcelain'-like creature with 'large' claws on island in India and discovered a new species, a study said. Screengrab fro @sagar1969m's YouTube video On an island in northeast India, a 'porcelain'-like creature with 'large' claws tucked itself under rocks and bricks, but its hiding place wasn't quite hidden enough. Passing scientists spotted the speckled animal — and discovered a new species. A team of researchers visited an island of West Bengal in 2023 for wildlife surveys of the mangrove forest, according to a study published May 2 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. During the visit, researchers found unfamiliar-looking crabs, the study said. They took a closer look at the 'distinctive' animals and realized they'd discovered a new species: Petrolisthes tanmayi, or Bhattacharya's porcelain crab. A Petrolisthes tanmayi, or Bhattacharya's porcelain crab. Photo shared by Subhadeep Maiti Bhattacharya's porcelain crabs have 'roughly rectangular' bodies, measuring less than an inch in length and width, the study said. Their claws are 'large,' 'flattened' and slightly different sizes. Their eyes are 'small,' and their body texture is 'smooth.' A photo shows the 'slate-brown' new species and its 'light brown' speckles. Bhattacharya's porcelain crabs were found 'under pebbles and bricks' on the 'intertidal zone' of the beach, but little is known about their lifestyle, the study said. The new species tends to gather 'under those bricks and pebbles,' preferring slightly muddy ground rather than fully sandy areas, study co-author Subhadeep Maiti told McClatchy News via email. When researchers turned over these hiding places, the crabs 'left the places quickly' in search of another hiding spot. 'If (a crab) is caught by hand, it shows aggressiveness sometimes by opening its claws.' Bhattacharya's porcelain crabs are probably a 'filter feeder, feed(ing) on microorganisms like planktons or suspended materials in water,' Maiti said. Researchers said they named the new species after Tanmay Bhattacharya, a 'former Professor of Zoology (at) Vidyasagar University,' because of 'his notable taxonomic contribution and for his constant guidance and support to us.' So far, Bhattacharya's porcelain crabs have only been found on a small island along the coast of West Bengal, a state of northeastern India that borders Bangladesh. A video shared on YouTube by @sagar1969m shows the small island where the new species lives. The new species was identified by its DNA, body shape and size, claw size, texture and other subtle physical features, the study said. The research team included Priti Ranjan Pahari, Shubhrajyoti Das, Mitali Das and Subhadeep Maiti. This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 8:53 AM. Aspen Pflughoeft McClatchy DC Go to X Email this person Aspen Pflughoeft covers real-time news for McClatchy. She is a graduate of Minerva University where she studied communications, history, and international politics. Previously, she reported for Deseret News.
