Top Ten New Species
Each May the International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University (ASU), along with an international committee of taxonomists, announces its choices for the top ten species that were formally recognized the previous year. Participants draw up their own criteria, and selections can be made based on anything from unique attributes to odd names.
The announcement is timed to celebrate the May 23 birthday of Carolus Linnaeus, who developed the scientific system of plant and animal names more than 250 years ago.
"Unless we put a face on biodiversity by making individual species known and giving them names to celebrate their unique contribution to evolutionary and ecological diversity, we cannot expect people to value them," Quentin Wheeler, director of the ASU institute, said via email. (See pictures of ASU's top ten new species of 2010.)
"Humankind needs to be reminded also that it is but 1 of 12 million living species," Wheeler said.
Scientists first learned of "Snubby," as they nicknamed the new monkey species, from hunters in Myanmar's remote, mountainous Kachin state (map).
Later dubbed Rhinopithecus strykeri, the odd animal has fleshy lips, an upturned nose, and an odd respiratory issue: Rain falling into the monkeys' noses possibly causes the animals to sneeze, so they often spend soggy days with their heads tucked between their knees.
A teacher participating in a citizen-science project gave the Bonaire banded box jelly the scientific name Tamoya ohboya, under the assumption that people who are stung by the noxious jelly would exclaim, Oh boy!
(Also see "'Pink Meanie' Pictures: New Jellyfish Attacks Other Jellies.")
Discovered in the species-rich Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania, the species' size and shape earned it the common name "wandering leg sausage."
(Blog post: "How Millipedes' Legs Become Sex Members.")
Dubbed Pterinopelma sazimai, the iridescent blue species may be at risk due to habitat loss and harvesting for the pet trade.
The arachnid is especially vulnerable because it lives only on "ecological islands"—a type of habitat in Brazil's tabletop mountains.
(See "Tarantulas Shoot Silk From Feet, Spider-Man Style.")
Thought to be the first night-blooming species among the 25,000 known orchids, the plant was named Bulbophyllum nocturnum, in part from the Latin word meaning "at night."
Known from only a single plant found in Papua New Guinea, the night-blooming orchid may be at risk due to habitat loss from logging, according to ASU.
(See "World's Smallest Orchid Discovered [By Accident].")
Discovered via fossils unearthed in China's Yunnan Province, the 2.4-inch-long (6-centimeter-long) Diania cactiformis had a worm-like body and ten pairs of armored, likely jointed legs.
The animal would have lived about 500 million years ago during a period of rapid evolution called the Cambrian explosion.
(Learn more about prehistoric animals.)
The wasp skims the ground to locate an ant, then drops rapidly and deposits an egg inside the victim, transforming the ant into rations for the wasp larva.
"When ants are aware of the air raid, they may wave away the wasps with their legs or turn with mandibles open to face the assailant," according to ASU.
(See "Pictures: Wasps Turn Ladybugs Into Flailing 'Zombies.'")
Botanists had collected the flower before in 1962 and 1994 but didn't recognize the species as a new flower.
Last year, though, the discovery "was made by intrepid botanists collecting plants miles from human habitation in heavy monsoon rains," ASU reports.
(See National Geographic's flower pictures.)
Though "admittedly the least photogenic of the lot," the devil worm "was most surprising," ASU's Wheeler said.
"I do not think anyone expected to find a multicellular organism living nearly a mile underground," he said.
"Discovery of this nematode raises the obvious question: What else do we not know about the biodiversity of the underworld?"
(See "Deepest-Ever Fish Caught Alive on Camera.")
Found in Sarawak, Malaysia, S. squarepantsii looks more like a sponge than a mushroom, and when squeezed like a sponge, it will bounce back to its normal size and shape, according to ASU.
Overall, "the best guarantee for our own future lies in learning about the rise and fall of other species," ASU's Wheeler added.
"If biodiversity is sustainable, so too, perhaps, are we."
Snub-Nosed Monkey
Photograph courtesy Ngwe Lwin
A man displays a new species of snub-nosed monkey—which was killed for food—in Myanmar (Burma) in 2010.Each May the International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University (ASU), along with an international committee of taxonomists, announces its choices for the top ten species that were formally recognized the previous year. Participants draw up their own criteria, and selections can be made based on anything from unique attributes to odd names.
The announcement is timed to celebrate the May 23 birthday of Carolus Linnaeus, who developed the scientific system of plant and animal names more than 250 years ago.
"Unless we put a face on biodiversity by making individual species known and giving them names to celebrate their unique contribution to evolutionary and ecological diversity, we cannot expect people to value them," Quentin Wheeler, director of the ASU institute, said via email. (See pictures of ASU's top ten new species of 2010.)
"Humankind needs to be reminded also that it is but 1 of 12 million living species," Wheeler said.
Scientists first learned of "Snubby," as they nicknamed the new monkey species, from hunters in Myanmar's remote, mountainous Kachin state (map).
Later dubbed Rhinopithecus strykeri, the odd animal has fleshy lips, an upturned nose, and an odd respiratory issue: Rain falling into the monkeys' noses possibly causes the animals to sneeze, so they often spend soggy days with their heads tucked between their knees.
Bonaire Banded Box Jelly
Photograph courtesy Ned DeLoach
Found
near the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire, this "strikingly beautiful
yet venomous jellyfish" resembles a box kite, with its long, colorful
tails, according to ASU.A teacher participating in a citizen-science project gave the Bonaire banded box jelly the scientific name Tamoya ohboya, under the assumption that people who are stung by the noxious jelly would exclaim, Oh boy!
(Also see "'Pink Meanie' Pictures: New Jellyfish Attacks Other Jellies.")
Wandering Leg Sausage
Image courtesy G. Brovad
At 6.3 inches (16 centimeters) long, the giant millipede Crurifarcimen vagans (pictured) is the biggest millipede yet found.Discovered in the species-rich Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania, the species' size and shape earned it the common name "wandering leg sausage."
(Blog post: "How Millipedes' Legs Become Sex Members.")
Sazima's Tarantula
Photograph courtesy Caroline S. Fukushima
The "breathtakingly beautiful" Sazima's tarantula was found in Bahia, Brazil, according to ASU.Dubbed Pterinopelma sazimai, the iridescent blue species may be at risk due to habitat loss and harvesting for the pet trade.
The arachnid is especially vulnerable because it lives only on "ecological islands"—a type of habitat in Brazil's tabletop mountains.
(See "Tarantulas Shoot Silk From Feet, Spider-Man Style.")
Night-Blooming Orchid
Image courtesy Jaap Vermeulen
Flowers of the night-blooming orchid (pictured) open around 10 p.m. and close the next morning.Thought to be the first night-blooming species among the 25,000 known orchids, the plant was named Bulbophyllum nocturnum, in part from the Latin word meaning "at night."
Known from only a single plant found in Papua New Guinea, the night-blooming orchid may be at risk due to habitat loss from logging, according to ASU.
(See "World's Smallest Orchid Discovered [By Accident].")
Walking Cactus
Illustration courtesy Jianni Liu
An ancient, spiny creature nicknamed a walking cactus is seen in an illustration.Discovered via fossils unearthed in China's Yunnan Province, the 2.4-inch-long (6-centimeter-long) Diania cactiformis had a worm-like body and ten pairs of armored, likely jointed legs.
The animal would have lived about 500 million years ago during a period of rapid evolution called the Cambrian explosion.
(Learn more about prehistoric animals.)
Dive-Bombing Wasp
Photograph courtesy C. van Achterberg
A new species of parasitic wasp found in Europe, Kollasmosoma sentum (pictured), "dive bombs" ants to lay its eggs.The wasp skims the ground to locate an ant, then drops rapidly and deposits an egg inside the victim, transforming the ant into rations for the wasp larva.
"When ants are aware of the air raid, they may wave away the wasps with their legs or turn with mandibles open to face the assailant," according to ASU.
(See "Pictures: Wasps Turn Ladybugs Into Flailing 'Zombies.'")
Nepalese Autumn Poppy
Photograph courtesy Paul Egan
The
"beautiful" Nepalese autumn poppy likely escaped identification for
many years due to its extreme high-altitude habitat—nearly 14,000 feet
(4,300 meters), according to ASU.Botanists had collected the flower before in 1962 and 1994 but didn't recognize the species as a new flower.
Last year, though, the discovery "was made by intrepid botanists collecting plants miles from human habitation in heavy monsoon rains," ASU reports.
(See National Geographic's flower pictures.)
Devil Worm
Image courtesy A. G. Borgonie, Ghent University
Discovered miles under Earth's surface, the devil worm (pictured) is the deepest-living animal yet found.Though "admittedly the least photogenic of the lot," the devil worm "was most surprising," ASU's Wheeler said.
"I do not think anyone expected to find a multicellular organism living nearly a mile underground," he said.
"Discovery of this nematode raises the obvious question: What else do we not know about the biodiversity of the underworld?"
(See "Deepest-Ever Fish Caught Alive on Camera.")
Spongebob Squarepants Mushroom
Photograph courtesy Thomas Bruns
The new species Spongiforma squarepantsii has a spongy appearance that reminded scientists of the cartoon character Spongebob Squarepants.Found in Sarawak, Malaysia, S. squarepantsii looks more like a sponge than a mushroom, and when squeezed like a sponge, it will bounce back to its normal size and shape, according to ASU.
Overall, "the best guarantee for our own future lies in learning about the rise and fall of other species," ASU's Wheeler added.
"If biodiversity is sustainable, so too, perhaps, are we."