The Great Discovery: Unearthing Novel Species
Each year, the exploration of new forms of biodiversity increases the potential for conserving our planet.
Discovering a new species re-ignites the quest for the uncharted treasures of biodiversity that remain hidden within the globe. It only reiterates the fact that even after taking newly discovered animals and plants as well as recently extinct animals and plants into account, only 10 per cent of all species on the planet have been identified.
And yet, when it comes to species discovery, 2022 has been an eventful year. If we compile the new sea creatures discovered in 2022, the colorful damselfish occupying the western Pacific and eastern Indian oceans stands out. Whereas, a new species of scorpions inhabiting the dry lake beds of Southern and Central California made it to the list of newfound reptiles.
Similarly, the novel flowering plants growing on the peaks of Brazil’s campo rupestre need their fair share of the spotlight. All in all, naturalists across the globe had a lot to add to their repository of rare species discoveries.
As per the research of California Academy of Sciences, 146 new species of biodiversity have been identified in 2022, with the total flora and fauna species discovery toll for the year charting to 351. It is highest for a year, as compared to the new species discovered in the last 5 years.
- 44 lizards
- 30 ants
- 14 sea slugs
- 14 flowering plants
- 13 sea stars
- 7 fishes
- 4 beetles
- 4 sharks
- 3 moths
- 3 worms
- 2 scorpions
- 2 spiders
- 2 lichens
- 1 toad
- 1 clam
- 1 aphid
- 1 sea biscuit
Exploring the New Species Discovered along with the Scientific names of Animals and Plants
1. Greta Thunberg’s Rainfrog (Pristimantis gretathunbergae) — Panama
During an expedition to Mount Chucantí in Panama, scientists discovered this tiny tree frog. It was named after young climate activist Greta Thunberg and her work, highlighting climate change urgency.
Mount Chucantí has been the abode to many unique and endemic species — but 30 per cent of its forest cover has been lost in the previous decade to cattle ranching.
Therefore, the discovery of this high-elevation species here was a rare find. Such species are vulnerable to fine-scale modifications in the environment and are at constant risk of extinction.
2. The Giant Bolivian Waterlily (Victoria boliviana) — Bolivia
The world’s largest waterlily measures an impressive height of 3.3 metres (10 feet). It is found in the wetlands of the Bolivian Amazon and has been marked as ‘vulnerable to extinction’ on the IUCN Red List.
Fun fact: Did you know that a dried specimen of this recently discovered plant was just lying camouflaged near the researchers at RBG Kew’s herbarium for 170 long years before being acknowledged as a novel species for this year?
3. Busy Lizzie (Impatiens banen) — Cameroon
A new, bright rare plant species discovered in Cameroon’s Ebo Forest, has been named after the indigenous Banen people — defenders of the Ebo Forest and wildlife reserve.
The plant has bright pink and white flowers and is usually known from the granite domes inside the forest. This incredibly biodiverse Ebo Forest has been understudied. Thanks to the efforts of the Banen community, logging activities have been stalled, and research can now continue.
4. The Southern-maned Sloth (Bradypus crinitus) — Brazil
After the review of DNA, behavioural and morphological evidence, 1 species of maned sloth has been classified into 2 by scientists. The southern-maned sloth has a flatter skull compared to its counterpart, and a head that resembles a coconut. It is hairy in nature. Ticks, moths, beetles, mites and algae inhabit the hair of these sloths.
Occupying Brazil’s highly biodiverse Atlantic Forest, these maned sloths are not endangered animals yet, but are ‘vulnerable to extinction’. However, scientists are trying to assess the species and devise ways to protect them.
5. Male Rose-veiled Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus finifenmaa) — Maldives
Maldives has been the abode of the first new-to-science colorful reef fish species. This male rose-veiled fairy wrasse has been named by a biologist from the Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI), Ahmed Najee, after the local Dhivehi word for ‘rose’. This nomenclature is due to the pink hues in the body of the fish and Maldives’ national flower.
Also, DNA analyses and physical differences have confirmed that rose-veiled fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus finifenmaa) is separated from the already discovered rosy-scales fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis).
Researchers strongly condemn the commercialization of this species through the aquarium trade.
6. Scops Owl (Otus bikegila) — Príncipe, Africa’s Gulf of Guinea
Scientists have found this new species of scops owl on Príncipe, a small island in Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, with the help of the locals. It is said that this species is found exclusively in an area expanding to 16 square kilometres.
This nocturnal bird makes a distinct and short “Tuu” note and repeats it rapidly, thereby emulating the sound of an insect. This call or sound is how the researchers led to its discovery.
No excessive threats exist to this species at present, but researchers after studying the island, have proposed that scops be classified as ‘critically endangered’ on the IUCN Red List.
Research, Discover, Conserve: Safeguard the Most Recently Discovered Animal or Plant
As the current scenario of biodiversity stands, most of the endangered species are being lost at an alarming rate due to various human activities like land change, over-exploitation of resources, pollution, the introduction of invasive species, etc. As per the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services 2019 report on biodiversity, 1 million species of flora and fauna are now threatened with extinction.
This loss of species is not very simple. As all of these species are involved in intricate, complex food webs in the different ecosystems. Plants and animals that are going extinct — even one of them, would have a knock-off effect on the other, thereby disrupting the entire balance. Chances are that the entire ecosystem may collapse.
Similarly, when a keystone species is lost to extinction, it can become responsible for the loss of habitat and in turn, change the dynamics of the natural world. Therefore, the new species discovered are essential to counter this loss of extinct species that is taking place.
It is important to identify and acknowledge such animals and plants — because the attributes of these newly discovered species will help scientists in furtherance of their conservation efforts.
