A glow-in-the-dark cockroach, a harp-shaped carnivorous sponge, and a monkey with “human-like eyes”: these were some of the new species that earned the distinction of being .
This morning, on the birthday of Carolus Linnaeus, the father of taxonomy, the International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University released its annual list, chosen by an international committee from over 140 nominations. They hope it will help put a priority on exploring biodiversity. The winners were chosen for their unexpected features, rarity, and significance to humans.
Some more highlights:
- A that became a nuisance when it broke out on the walls of France’s Lascaux Cave, famous for its ancient cave art
- The world’s smallest vertebrate, a that can be as tiny as 7 millimeters
- A from Ecuador
- A that was identified as a new species when someone posted a photo of it on Flickr
See the full .