How many species are there?
On average, 2 new species of fish are found every week, and it is thought that the jungles of the world contain many more amphibians and reptiles than have yet been named. Even now we still get a few new bird species discovered every year, and, amazingly, new species of mammal are still found occasionally.
New discoveries
Recent finds include a new Genus of monkey in Tanzania, a new parrot and forest mouse on a small Philippine island, a 'hairy' lobster (This was a whole new family, not species), a new snake in Vietnam, 5 new frogs and a new newt in Laos, a new stingray in Thailand, a new monkey in India, an unusual spitting spider in Madagascar that lives in family groups, and new sharks off Mexico and Indonesia. Borneo is a hotspot for new discoveries; from 1994-2004 361 new species were found there: 260 insects, 50 plants, 30 fish, 7 frogs, 6 lizards, 5 crabs, 2 snakes and a toad.
Recent new species discoveries
- New species of green pit viper found in Honduras
- Scientists discover new fish in Florida
- Long-lost giant fish from Amazon rediscovered in 145 year old literature
- A new species on every mountain - Extraordinary evolution in Thailand
- New species of porcupine and mole rat discovered
- New species of see through fish discovered in Amazonia
- New tarantula species the size of an iPad discovered in Sri Lanka
- 2 new species of mouse lemur identified in Madagascar
- New genus of snake recognised on Sri Lanka
- New scorpion species found near city of Tucson in USA
- Scientists resurrecting extinct species
- First Antarctic whale skeleton is home to 9 new species
- 8 species of bugs new to UK found near Loch Ness
- New species of sea slugs, feather stars and amphipods discovered in Papua New Guinea lagoon
- Two new species of Salamander discovered in Colombia as deadly fungus detected for first time
- New owl species identified on Lombok
- Bright blue lizard discovered in the rainforests of Vietnam
- New species of unique burrowing lizard discovered in Madagascar
- Huge, green flying frog discovered in Vietnam
- 41 new species of moths discovered on Congo
- Two new lizard species discovered in Australia
- 33 new trapdoor spider species discovered in the American southwest
- 126 new species identified in Mekong region in 2011 – Including Beelzebub bat
- 3 new sub species of slow loris recognised from Borneo
- 137 new species described by California Academy of Sciences in 2012
- New species of butterfly discovered in Jamaica
- Tiny new hermit crab species discovered in Belize
- New weta species discovered on threatened plateau in New Zealand
- New blunt-headed snake species discovered in Ecuador
- Identical sea snakes are 2 completely different species
- New species of lion discovered - In Ethiopian zoo?
- Tiny new species of beetle discovered that keeps it head inside its body
- Seven new beetle species identified in Canada
- New lizard discovered in Western Australia – Already Endangered
- 9 unusual new species of Tarantula discovered in Brazil
- One of the world's least known birds has been rediscovered in China
- Giant spider discovered in Laos
- 160 new species discovered in Borneo - Spiders, bugs, beetles, damselflies, fungi and possibly a frog
- A new species of snake found in northern Vietnam, southern China and central Laos
- New fish species has hooks on genitalia
- New monkey, marsupial and shrew amongst 8 new mammal species found in Peru
- Brightly coloured snake from Panama new to science
- 4 new bat species recognised in Africa
- New species of monkey discovered in Africa
- The world's 100 most threatened species - Are they priceless or worthless?
- Colombia mega dam will destroy habitat for threatened macaw and newly-discovered wren
- Two new species of owl recognized from the Philippines
- Colourful new bird species discovered in Peru
- New family of spiders discovered in Oregon cave
- New species of rat redefines rodents
- New species of fruit bat discovered in Indonesia
- New mammal species discovered in Indonesia
- What we know and don't know about earth's missing biodiversity - Known unknowns
- Scarlet snake discovered in Cambodia
- World’s smallest fly discovered in Thailand
- New species of day flying moth discovered in New Zealand
- New species of crab has been found hiding on the seabed off Spain
- IUCN 2012 update - 4 species extinct – 2 rediscovered – Food security waning
- The world’s rarest toad rediscovered in Sri Lanka
- Two new species of frog identified in Australia
- Is it possible to predict the formation of new species? - Probably
- New species of bird identified in Colombia
- New frog species from Panama will turn your fingers yellow
- New species of skink discovered on Socotra Archipelago
- New species of lizard discovered in central African minefield
- Huge fossil crocodile discovered in East Africa
- 24 new species of lizards discovered on Caribbean islands are close to extinction
- New ’bumblebee’ gecko discovered in Papua New Guinea
- ‘Extinct’ cloud rat rediscovered in the Philippines
- Two new frog species discovered in the Philippines
- 20 – 30 new frogs discovered in Madagascan forest
- Twenty new species of insect discovered in the heart of Europe – In the Czech Republic
- Snail that eats crabs in Queensland
- New species of scorpion discovered – In California
- Extinct frog rediscovered in Burundi
- New species of colourful river crabs: Already Endangered
- Huge new wasp discovered in Sulawesi
- Hiding in plain sight: New frog species found in New York
- New species of Galapagos deep-sea catshark discovered
- New species of skink discovered in Cambodia
- New bat species found in Vietnam
- New species of sea snake in Australia
- Four new species: tiny chameleons discovered in Madagascar
- New family of legless burrowing amphibian discovered in India’s vanishing habitats
- New species of skink discovered in Australia
- A supergiant prawn – monster of the deep
- An armoured catfish, a cowboy frog, and a host of colourful insects discovered in southwest Suriname
- Newly discovered frog is world’s tiniest vertebrate
- 19,232 new species discovered in 2009
- Nile crocodiles are two different species – According to Geneticist ‘splitters’
- New horse-fly species named after pop diva Beyonce
- 'Extinct' monkey rediscovered in Borneo
- 5 years searching for the world’s rarest animals
- World’s first look at the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey
- New species discovered around Caribbean deep sea thermal vents
- Striking new species of viper discovered in Tanzania
- New primate species discovered on Madagascar
- New yeti crab amongst new species discovered around Antarctic hydrothermal vents
- Two new species of moss frog found in South-East Asia
- 140 new species described by California Academy of Sciences in 2011
- New species discovered every two days in the Mekong
- Missing American bee rediscovered after 50 year absence
- 2,000 more bee species than previously thought
- 12 new species of frogs discovered in The Amazon
- Extinct frog rediscovered in Israel
- A new species of ferret-badger discovered in Vietnam
- 84 new species of ant-like flower beetles discovered in Wallacea and New Guinea
- Night flowering orchid discovered
- ‘Extinct’ giant sponge rediscovered off Singapore
- Very unusual snail is new to science
- New bat species found in Cambodia
- Two new bee species are mysterious pieces in the Panama puzzle
- Wales is home to 13 new sea sponge species
- British engineering team heads to Antarctica to explore hidden lake
- New species of sponge discovered off Norfolk coast
- Two new frog species discovered in Australia
- Unusually large mollusc discovered in Antarctic waters
- New species of antelope discovered in West Africa
- Discovery of all species on Earth achievable this century
- Prey eats the hunter as beetle larvae turn tables on toads
- 25 new species discovered in UAE's Wadi Wurayah
- A dozen new nightfrog species found in India - 3 'lost ' frogs rediscovered
- Melbourne’s dolphins declared as a new species
- New shark species discovered in Taiwanese fish market
- New Bolivian bird species on the edge
- Three new species of bat in Vietnam - Including a 'demon bat'
- New seabird species discovered in Hawaii
- Scientists discover new species of monkey in Amazon
- Rediscovered species – Or just delayed extinction?
- First photograph of mysterious African purse-web spider
- “Lost” amphibian stages amazing reappearing act in Borneo after eluding scientists for 87 years
- More than 300 new species discovered in the Philippines
- 1,000 new species found in New Guinea
- Seven new species of mice discovered in The Philippines
- ‘Extinct’ Vegas Valley Leopard frog found alive and well – Living in Central Arizona
- Arabian oryx moved from IUCN Endangered list – Many new entries
- Limpet thought extinct for 60 years is rediscovered
- Orange-tailed skink rescued from extinction
- Two new beetles discovered in Spain
- 615 new species discovered in Madagascar in 11 years – Many already Endangered
- Voyage of discovery: Kermadecs expedition finds several new species
- New species of frog found in Aboriginal reserve
- New species of bat found on St. Vincent Island
- New species found as Bali’s reef recovery gets underway
- New species of blind and legless lizard found in Cambodia
- Another new butterfly discovered in Natural History Museum collection
- Wealth of marine life revealed by glacier calving
- First record of Vietnamese box turtles in the wild
- New toad discovered in Vietnam
- New species of marine snail found off Florida
- New species of beetle named after US president
- New stingray genus discovered in the Amazon
- Zombie ant fungus: four species not one
- New sea bird discovered off Chile
- 5 'extinct' frogs rediscovered in India
- New bird discovered in Madagascar
- Cryptic new wolf species identified in north Africa
- New species registered using groundbreaking DNA-based description
- New species of giant crayfish found in US
- New African water beetle discovered by Herefordshire naturalist
- Six lost species of frogs rediscovered in Haiti
- New species of lizard discovered… on a restaurant menu
- New species of ‘vampire’ flying frog discovered in Vietnam
- New species of lemur discovered in Madagascar
- Rampant logging, illegal collection and slash and burn agriculture driving Madagascar’s rare frogs towards extinction
- World’s rarest and strangest fly rediscovered in Kenya
- New species of large squid found
- Species ID challenged by DNA analysis
- New species of bat in Ecuador – but it may already be extinct
- New species of carnivorous plant discovered in Cambodia
- Amazing Amazon: A new species found every three days in past decade
- New Snub-Nosed Monkey discovered in northern Myanmar
- More than 200 new snails of the same genus described in a single study
- Scientists discover new species 7 kilometres down in one of the world’s deepest ocean trenches
- In pictures: three new species of frog found in Colombia
- Three new unusual frog species discovered in Tanzania
- New Critically Endangered carnivorous mammal discovered in Madagascar - First in 24 years
- Greater Mekong home to 145 new species last year alone
- Incredible array of new species found in remote Papua New Guinea
- New species of sea slug discovered in California
- New gibbon species discovered in Indochina
- New spider produces world’s largest web and strongest natural material
- Possible new species of Giant elephant-shrew discovered in Kenya
- ‘Extinct’ fox rediscovered in California
- Tiny, new, pea-sized frog is old world's smallest
- New species of monkey discovered in Amazon – Just 250 left
- New species of fresh water turtle discovered in the USA
- Unlocking secrets of Antarctic octopus venom
- Frog disease wiping out undiscovered species
- New deep sea species filmed off Australia
- Two new insects discovered in UAE
- 2 new species of batfish discovered in area engulfed by oil spill
- The missing link: Voyage of discovery to the Atlantic deep finds new species
More new species discoveries
- New gecko species identified in West African rainforests
- Nine new species of threatened handfish
- Two new frog species discovered in Panama’s fungal war zone
- 25 new beetle species found in Turkish oaks
- New species of bird discovered in Colombia
- New species of frog in Madagascar has unique breeding habit
- New species of pigeon, spike-nosed frogs and world’s smallest wallaby found in New Guinea
- Three new monitor lizards from the Philippines identified
- Unusual new species of frog discovered on the highest peak in India’s Western Ghats
- New species of jellyfish discovered with gonads on its head
- New species of moth discovered in England
- Killer whales are probably several different species
- Dwarf lemur rediscovered after 100 years
- New species of giant fruit-eating lizard discovered in the Philippines
- New species of gecko discovered in Cambodia's Cardamon Mountains
- New mountain-tanager subspecies discovered in Colombia
- New species of shrike described from Africa
- New species of carnivorous sponge found off New Zealand
- New species of sea worms discovered in Australia & Sweden
- New species of stingray discovered off Western Australia
- New species of ‘Spiny Pocket Mouse’ discovered in Venezuela
- Remarkable new ‘Colour changing’ frog discovered on New Guinea island
- Treasure trove of new & unusual frogs and snakes discovered in Ecuador
- New bird species found in Heart of Borneo
- New spider species discovered – Largest in the Middle East
- New species displays entirely new behaviour
- Students discover new species of cockroach in New York
- New bird species discovered in Laos
- Largest new species of 2009 – 42 metre high tree – amongst 290 new plants by Kew
- Three new tree species discovered at Cheddar Gorge
- Four new species of King crab discovered – In a museum
- New chameleon species discovered in East Africa
- Beyond sunlight: Explorers census 17,650 ocean species between edge of darkness and black abyss
- Africa's rarest monkey interbred with baboons
- Expeditions to search for new species in Mozambique & Madagascar
- New 'moustached' amphibians discovered in India
- New ‘giant’ Golden orb spider discovered in South Africa
- Long feared extinct, rare crow rediscovered in Indonesia
- World’s first vegetarian spider discovered in Central America
- New lizard species discovered in India
- 850 new invertebrate species discovered in Australian caves
- New species discovered on whale skeletons
- New species of ghostshark has sexual appendages on forehead
- New species of high altitude frogs discovered in Peru – No tadpoles
- 45 new species of snails found on Western Australian Islands
- Giant rat and new marsupial amongst 40 new species discovered in Papua New Guinea
- ‘Extinct’ butterfly rediscovered in India after a 100 year absence
- Saola antelope, only discovered in 1992, is on the brink of extinction.
- New species of scarab beetle discovered in Florida
- Venomous crustacean amongst new species discovered in Canary Islands
- New species of fungus found on the New Forest
- Scientists discover bioluminescent deep sea worms that fire light missiles
- 18 new species of invertebrate discovered in South Africa
- New species of ‘bald’ bird discovered in Laos
- New species of monkey discovered in the Amazon Basin
- New species & genus of salamander found in the USA
- New geyser erupts in Kamchatka
- Tiny new species of bat discovered on Comoros Islands
- Two New Frogs Discovered in Western Australia
- New species of phallus-shaped mushroom named after California academy of sciences scientist
- Scientists discover a host of new species in remote mountains of Ecuador
- New species of Arabian freshwater fish discovered in Oman
- Scientists Announce Top 10 New Species of 2008
- New Species of lizard discovered in Cuba
- Extraordinary 200 new species of frogs identified in Madagascar
- Western Australia’s coastal islands survey reveals surprising biodiversity & 27 new species of snail – Possible solution to Cane toad problem
- New species of rattlesnake discovered in Vietnam
- New species of mouse and beetles discovered in Peru
- Frogs, gecko & spiders amongst 50 new species found in Papua New Guinea
- New antpitta discovered in Colombia – Probably already extinct
- Pygmy frog discovered in Peru – Lays just 2 eggs
- New species of ‘walking’ frogfish discovered in Indonesia
- New species of White-eye discovered in the Solomon Islands
- New species of Antarctic fish discovered
- Genetic study finds treasure trove of new lizards in Australia
- 19 new species discovered and named in Western Australia
- Extinct bird, not seen for 100 years, photographed and eaten in The Philippines
- New butterfly species found – In London’s Natural History Museum
- No joy in discovery of 408 new mammal species since 1993 - just a warning for humanity
- Ten new amphibian species discovered in Colombia
- Newly discovered fossil snake weighed more than 1 tonne
- Twelve new species of frog found in India’s Western Ghats
- Carnivorous sea squirt amongst new species discovered off Tasmania
- A new species of land iguana found in the Galapagos
- Tanzania forests yield 17 new species of amphibians and reptiles
- Forgotten Mozambique forest yields 3 new species of butterfly and a new snake
- Green-blood and turquoise bones. Very unusual new species of frog discovered in Cambodia
- More than 1000 new species have been discovered in the rivers, jungles, markets and restaurants of the Greater Mekong in the last 10 years
- Newly discovered bat species - Naming rights auction
- DNA tests identify new species of dolphin in Australia
- Study doubles species diversity of enigmatic 'flying lemurs'
- ‘Extinct’ Pygmy tarsier rediscovered in Indonesia
- New species of gecko discovered in Vanuatu
- Legless lizard from Brazil conformed as new species
- Scientists announce major progress towards historic Census of Marine Life in 2010
- Natural History Museum acquires huge Hawkmoth collection – potential new species
- World’s longest insect discovered in Borneo
- New Antpitta subspecies described from Colombia
- Scientists discover UK's common earthworms are many different species
- Legendary deer rediscovered in Sumatran national park
- 274 new marine species discovered off South Tasmania
- Four new species of frog and another ‘Extinct’ frog rediscovered in Ecuador
- Hundreds of new species of coral and other species discovered on Great Barrier Reef
- New species of Iguana discovered in Fiji
- World’s oldest ant species discovered in the Amazon
- Splitters identify new species of Goliath grouper
- New species of giant clam discovered in the Red Sea
- test
- New Forest Robin bird species discovered in Gabon
- Wildlife news RSS feed now available.
- World's smallest snake discovered in Barbados
- A new species of moth with carnivorous larvae discovered in Panama
- Recently discovered Kipunji monkey is critically endangered
- 30% of all marine species don’t exist – 1 million do
- Cleese happier to be a Lemur than a Knight
- Unidentified frog photos taken in Peruvian Amazon
- Climate changes may have promoted the formation of new species in the Amazon
- Unknown insect found in Natural History Museum garden
- New species of Mouse lemur discovered in Madagascar
- New species of ‘ghost’ slug discovered in Wales
- New species of bird-eating frog discovered in Thailand.
- New species of bird discovered in China
- Another new bird species from Colombia
- New butterfly species declared in Israel.
- Marine scientists marvel at vast "Brittlestar City” found on huge seamount in Antarctica
- Another new species of lizard discovered in India
- A new species of lizard found in India's Western Ghats
- New species of “Rock and Roll” spider
- New fish species discovered in Virginia
- Dwarf cloud rat rediscovered in the Philippines after 112 years
- Dwarf woodpecker and legless lizard among 14 new species discovered in Cerrado region of Brazil
- New Genus of Insect Found in Arizona Cave
- New Snake and Gecko Amongst New Species Discovered in Cambodia & Vietnam
- New Monkey Discovered in the Amazon
- New Bird Species Recognised in Colombia, May Already be Extinct
- A new subspecies of bird discovered at Koshi Tappu in Nepal
- Four Lizards New to Science Discovered in The Highlands of Panama
- Scientists Discover New Species of Giant Elephant-Shrew in Tanzania
- A New Species of Shrew Described in Sri Lanka
- First Photos of Rare Mouse-Deer - Is it a New Species?
- New Bird Species Discovered on Indonesian Island
- Extraordinary Giant Palm Discovered in Madagascar
- New species of bird discovered in Colombia.
- New Species of Moray Eel discovered in the Red Sea
- New species of lizard discovered in Vietnam
- 11 new species discovered in Vietnam
- A new snake, a Taipan , is discovered in Australia
- Researchers Find 24 Species Believed New to Science in Suriname Rainforest
- World's largest spitting cobra discovered in East Africa
- Scientists discover new species of cloud-forest rodent
- Scientists Discover New Genus of Frogmouth Bird in Solomon Islands
- New Species of Snapper Discovered in Brazil
- Scientists discover 5 new species of sea slugs from the Tropical Eastern Pacific
- Fifty new species discovered off Indonesia's Papua coast.
- 24 Species Believed New to Science in found in Papua New Guinea Highlands
- Smithsonian Scientists Discover New Marine Species in Eastern Pacific
- Twenty three new species found in newly protected Amazon region.
- New species of bird discovered in India
- 2000 new mammal species about to be discovered
- Newly discovered spitting spider shows very unusual social tendencies.
- New chameleon-like snake discovered in the Heart of Borneo
- Laotian rock rat rediscovered after 11 million years.
- A New Species Of Stripe-Faced Fruit Bat discovered in The Philippines
- Researchers find new species of sea anemone living on a dead whale
- Three new species of Mouse Lemur recognised
- New species of sucker-footed bat found in Madagascar
- Six new species discovered in 'Lost Forest'.
- Another new lizard discovered in Vietnam
- Two new lizards discovered in Brazil
- New species of Lizard discovered in Borneo, and possible new snake and frogs too.
- A new species of frog, India's smallest, has been discovered in the Western Ghats
- Many new species and new records of marine species discovered in Hawaiian Islands
- New species of golden frog discovered in remote region of Colombia
- New species of Capuchin monkey found in Brazil.
- New parrot and mouse species found on a small island in Philippines.
- Forests of Laos full of new species.
- New mammal discovered in Borneo
- Two mammals thought to be new to science discovered in Indonesia
- New species of 'Giant peccary' discovered in Brazil
- New species of freshwater stingray discovered in Thailand
- Eight previously unknown species discovered in Israel.
- Diverse Sea ‘Bugs,’ and Other Life Revealed on Landmark Atlantic Cruise to Census Zooplankton and Animals at Depths to 5 km.
- New species of Dwarf Manatee discovered in the Brazilian Amazon.
- New species of mouse discovered in Cyprus
- Two New Species of Poison Dart Frogs Discovered in Colombia
- New frog species discovered in Western Australia
- Discovery of new cave millipedes casts light on Arizona cave ecology
- Borneo Clouded leopards recognised as a distinct species
- More than fifty new species found in Borneo in the last year.
- New Species of Barkfly recorded in Britain for the First Time
- Hundreds of new marine species discovered in the Antarctic
- Deep sea studies find 'New continent' and species in Atlantic
9 unusual new species of Tarantula discovered in BrazilArboreal tarantulas are known from a few tropical places in Asia, Africa, South and Central America and the Caribbean. These tarantulas generally have a lighter build, thinner bodies and longer legs than their ground living cousins, and are much better suited for their arboreal habitat. They have increased surface area at the ends of their legs, allowing them to better climb different surfaces, while their light build makes them more agile.
Read more »
One of the world's least known birds has been rediscovered in ChinaIn early June 2012, Yann Muzika photographed many finches during a difficult trek in Yenigou Valley in western Qinghai, China, including one he could not identify. In August, he sent a batch of photographs to Krys Kazmierczak, of OrientalBirdImages.org, who immediately identified the mystery bird as the long-lost Sillem's Mountain Finch.
Read more »
160 new species discovered in Borneo - Spiders, bugs, beetles, damselflies, fungi and possibly a frogThe largest numbers of new species were found among the spiders and fungi. Other new species include true bugs, beetles, snails, stalk-eyed flies, damselflies, ferns, termites and possibly a frog.
Read more »
A team of scientists from Peru and Mexico have made a series of discoveries, including potentially eight new mammal species, that may be one of the most important findings for biodiversity in recent decades.
Read more »
The world's 100 most threatened species - Are they priceless or worthless?For the first time ever, more than 8,000 scientists from the IUCN Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) have come together to identify 100 of the most threatened animals, plants and fungi on the planet. But conservationists fear they'll be allowed to die out because none of these species provide humans with obvious benefits.
Read more »
Two new species of owl recognized from the Philippines"More than 15 years ago, we realized that new subspecies of Ninox hawk-owls existed in the Philippines," she said. "But it wasn't until last year that we obtained enough recordings that we could confirm that they were not just subspecies, but two new species of owls."
Read more »
New species of rat redefines rodentsScientists have discovered an extreme species of rodent in Indonesia unlike any other on Earth; an almost toothless, worm-eating rat unable to gnaw or chew. The discovery of Paucidentomys vermidax illustrates how the process of evolution can lead to the loss of previously successful traits in species faced with new opportunities.
Read more »
IUCN 2012 update - 4 species extinct – 2 rediscovered – Food security waningThe source of our food, medicines and clean water, as well the livelihoods of millions of people may be at risk with the rapid decline of the world's animal and plant species. The latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM, released on the eve of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, shows that of the 63,837 species assessed, 19,817 are threatened with extinction, including 41% of amphibians, 33% of reef building corals, 25% of mammals, 13% of birds, and 30% of conifers. The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator of the health of the world's biodiversity.
Read more »
New species of bird identified in ColombiaThe latest addition to the wren family can be told apart from its counterparts by its unique plumage coloration, the pattern of barring on its wings and tail, its smaller body size, and its distinctive birdsong.
Read more »


