SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) has released a fascinating list of the top 10 new species discovered in 2015.
These animals boast highly unusual traits, and two were especially noted for their offbeat parenting techniques: a frog was found to give birth to live tadpoles instead of laying eggs; and a wasp used dead ants to protect its nursery. The list also included "a cartwheeling spider, a bird-like dinosaur and a fish that wriggles around on the sea floor to create a circular nesting site." Other new finds on the list may take things a step further and represent entire new phylum, these amazing species are a nine-inch walking stick and a photogenic sea slug. The list ends with a red-and-green plant used for holiday celebrations in Mexico and a coral that was immediately determined to be endangered.
"The last vast unexplored frontier on Earth is the biosphere. We have only begun to explore the astonishing origin, history, and diversity of life," said Quentin Wheeler, ESF president and founding director of the IISE.
Scientists believe there are at least 10 million species hiding out there in the world awaiting discovery.
"An inventory of plants and animals begun in the 18th century continues apace with the discovery of about 18,000 additional species each year. The nearly 2 million species named to date represent a small fraction of an estimated 12 million. Among the remaining 10 million are irreplaceable clues to our own origins, a detailed blueprint of how the biosphere self-organized, and precious clues to better, more efficient, and more sustainable ways to meet human needs while conserving wild living things. It is time to mount a mission to planet Earth to distinguish, describe, name and classify its life-forms before it is too late. The Top 10 is a reminder of the wonders awaiting us," Wheeler said.
