New Species

New and Rare Species

Atelopus Frog

Conservation International announced the discovery of 24 new species in a remote area of eastern Suriname, June 4, 2007. This Atelopus frog was found in the Nassau Mountains and has fluorescent purple markings.
- Full Story

Eleutherodactylus Frog

A new species of the frog Eleutherodactylus was also discovered during the expedition in the plateaus of eastern Suriname. Suriname is a South American country located north of Brazil, between Guyana and French Guiana.

Legless Lizard

A new species of limbless lizard was recently discovered in the Khandadhar region of eastern India. The seven-inch lizard looks like a small snake with scales on both sides of its body. "It prefers to live in a cool retreat, soft soil and below stones," said Sushil Kumar Dutta, head of the zoology department of the North Orissa University.

Cidaroid Sea Urchin

This spindly, cidaroid sea urchin has house guests: sponges, made up of millions of single-celled animals, have attached to the urchin's branches. This animal was recently discovered in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. Although this area was thought to be as barren as arctic waters, it has proven to be full of life. Findings even suggest that all life on Earth started in the Southern Ocean.
- Deep Sea Menagerie Discovered

Jimbaran Shovelnose Ray

This Jimbaran Shovelnose ray is one of about 20 new and rare species recently documented in Indonesian fish markets. The five year study was the first careful review of Indonesia's sharks and rays since the mid 1800s.
- Study Details

Bali Catshark

This Bali Catshark is among the rare species recently documented in a survey of Indonesian fish markets. Experts report that proper classification of these animals is particularly important because they are slow to reproduce and vulnerable to overfishing. Given these conditions, accurate estimates of population are necessary to develop plans for managing fishing activity.

Slender-billed Vulture

An endangered slender-billed vulture sits in its nest on a tree in a forest in Stung Treng province, Cambodia. Researchers working in the remote forests of Cambodia said Feb. 7, 2007, that they have discovered the only known colony in Southeast Asia of slender-billed vultures, which are considered one of the world's most threatened bird species. The only other colony is in India.

Deep Water Copepod

This deep water copepod is one of the newly discovered ocean species announced Dec. 10. Other finds include a 4-pound rock lobster and a giant tube worm that lives at depths of 8,000 feet.

Walking Shark

Scientists announced Feb. 7, 2006 the discovery of dozens of new marine species including a shark that walks on its fins. The epaulette shark (Hemiscyillum freycineti), is one of over 50 likely new species discovered during the recent Conservation International-led surveys in the waters off Indonesia's Papua province.

Living Fossil Mouse

The "living fossil" mouse has a bigger head, ears, eyes and teeth than other European mice and is found only on Cyprus. In 2004 genetic tests confirmed that the new mouse was a new species and it was named Mus cypriacus, or the Cypriot mouse.

Indonesian Frog

Scientists surveying an isolated Indonesian jungle discovered dozens of new species of frogs, butterflies and plants, and glimpsed large mammals that have been hunted to near-extinction elsewhere, the team announced Feb. 7, 2006.- World Atlas: Indonesia

Furry Lobster

This photo by the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea shows a new crustacean, called "Kiwa hirsuta," which resembles a furry lobster. The eyeless shellfish, about 15 cm (5.9 inches) long was discovered in March 2005 during a diving mission led by American researcher Robert Vrijenhoek in hydrothermal vents of the Pacific Antarctic Ridge, south of Easter Island.- World Atlas: Antarctic Ocean

Smokey Honeyeater

The smoky honeyeater is a new bird species discovered in the Papua province, Indonesia in 2006. The honeyeater exists on a diet of nectar and insects. This is the the first new bird species documented on the island in more than 60 years.- Learn More from Conservation International

Tree Kangaroo

A golden-mantled tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus pulcherrimus) was discovered in the Foya Mountains in Indonesia's easternmost Papua province in December 2005. This was the first record of the species in Indonesia and the second site on Earth where it is known to exist.

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