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Unique creatures — and new species — discovered around the world. Take a look

By Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization
New species are being discovered all around us. Take a look at some of the latest finds.
New species are being discovered all around us. Take a look at some of the latest finds. Sebastian Unrau via Unsplash

The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Many new species are discovered each year. Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses.

Learn more about some recent discoveries:

‘Crocodile’-like creature with orange fingertips found on a farm. It’s a new species

Scientists found a “crocodile”-like creature with orange fingertips at a mountain farm in Vietnam and discovered a new species.
Scientists found a “crocodile”-like creature with orange fingertips at a mountain farm in Vietnam and discovered a new species. Photo from Son Xuan Le via Poyarkov, Nguyen, Le, Le, Arkhipov, Gorin, Hernandez and Dufresnes (2024)

In northern Vietnam, scientists discovered the Cao Bang crocodile newt, identified by its striking orange fingertips. This “medium”-sized amphibian inhabits mountain forests and is threatened by “destructive” human activities but is protected under Vietnamese law. | Published Nov. 14 | Read More |

‘Giant’ forest creature — kept in terrarium for 37 years — turns out to be new species

Scientists found a “giant” creature in a forest of New Caledonia, kept it in a terrarium for decades and discovered a new species.
Scientists found a “giant” creature in a forest of New Caledonia, kept it in a terrarium for decades and discovered a new species. Photo from Joachim Sameit

Willi’s giant gecko, a new species from New Caledonia, was identified after being kept in captivity for decades. This “robust” gecko, reaching up to a foot in length, was confirmed as a new species through recent DNA analysis. | Published Nov. 19 | Read More |

Eight-legged creature — with ‘intense blue’ rear end — is a new species in Colombia

In a rural community in central Colombia, a spot of blue drew researchers attention to a new species.
In a rural community in central Colombia, a spot of blue drew researchers attention to a new species. Daniel Chirivi-Joya

In Colombia, researchers discovered Nops mamoris, a spider with a vivid blue rear end, in the rural areas near Bogotá. This new species stands out due to its unique coloration and was named in dedication to a researcher’s love. | Published Nov. 18 | Read More |

Mysterious 2-foot-long creature — with dozens of teeth — discovered as new species

Scientists found a 2-foot-long amphibian with dozens of teeth in a forest of Ecuador and discovered a mysterious new species, a study said.
Scientists found a 2-foot-long amphibian with dozens of teeth in a forest of Ecuador and discovered a mysterious new species, a study said. Photo from Mark Oliver Rödel

Tesoro’s caecilian, a “large,” limbless amphibian, was found in the forests of Ecuador. Known for its “unique” coloring and underground lifestyle, this species becomes “active” on the surface after big rains. | Published Nov. 19 | Read More |

Half-asleep creature with a ‘window’ in its eyelid found in Vietnam. It’s a new species

Scientists found a half-asleep creature with a “window” in its eyelid on a mountain and discovered a new species, a study said.
Scientists found a half-asleep creature with a “window” in its eyelid on a mountain and discovered a new species, a study said. Photo from Nicolas Spehler via Unsplash

The Fansipan ground skink, discovered on Mount Fansipan in Vietnam, is notable for its unique eyelid “window.” This “medium”-sized lizard was found in a state of brumation, a kind of reptilian hibernation, under fallen trees in the chilly mountain environment. | Published Nov. 14 | Read More |

McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery of unusual and intriguing new species. Check back for the latest studies.

This story was originally published November 22, 2024 at 9:29 AM with the headline "Unique creatures — and new species — discovered around the world. Take a look."

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