In this well-trodden world, the discovery of a species new to science is an exciting event, a glimmer of the uncharted riches of biodiversity still hidden around the globe.
A New Indian pit viper named after a Harry Potter character
A new green pit viper species was found in the Himalayas and named Trimeresurus salazar, or the Salazar’s pit viper, after Salazar Slytherin, a character from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. The snake, which is nocturnal and has a unique reddish-to-orange stripe on the head and body of males, was discovered during a herpetological expedition in the northeasternmost state of India, Arunachal Pradesh, which has been home to many new discoveries of plants and animals in recent decades.
A new false gecko found in the Philippines
On a collection trip on the southeastern tip of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon, researchers found several species of false geckos, the final one receiving its name this year: the Bicol hollow-dwelling forest gecko (Pseudogekko hungkag). Hungkag means “hollow” in Filipino, and is a nod to the gecko’s tendency to hide in hollow areas such as logs. It has inverted “Y” shaped markings along its entire tail, and golden-yellow eyes that reflect in the light of a flashlight. The Bicol hollow-dwelling forest gecko is only the 10th species from the genus Pseudogekko (false geckos), all of which are found exclusively in the Philippines. Their quick movements and camouflage make them very difficult to find, and little is known about their habitat range and requirements.
Though newly described to science, this Madagascar giant frog is well known at the dinner table
Frog fritters and frog legs are on the menu in many Madagascan towns, where giant frogs are bred in ponds or easily caught in the countryside and brought to the table. One of these giant frog species, which reaches body lengths of more than 10 centimeters (4 inches), drew the attention of researchers. Using genetic analysis, scientists found that this frog, while well-known to locals, was unknown to science. It has been distinguished from other Mantidactylus frog species in its genus and named Mantidactylus radaka. Radaka is the traditional name for the large frog. There are now 362 recognized species of frogs in Madagascar.
A beautiful and endangered langur species found in Myanmar
A new primate species, the Popa langur (Trachypithecus popa), was identified in the lab, using samples of tissues from museum specimens, captive species, and fecal samples from wild animals collected in the forests of Myanmar. Only around 200 to 260 Popa langur individuals are known to exist, spread across four separate populations. The safest population, according to researchers, lives in an area of forest only about 26 square kilometers (10 square miles) in size, which may not give it room to sustain a growing population. Although its status has not been formally assessed, it qualifies for a “critically endangered” designation under the IUCN Red List criteria.
A shiny salamander from the U.S. finally gets a name
More than 50 years after it was first collected, a new species of salamander has been identified by researchers using next-generation DNA sequencing technology. The Carolina sandhills salamander (Eurycea arenicola) is found in the springs and small streams in the sandhills region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The state has 64 named salamanders, more than any other state in the country. The sandhills region holds some of the last remaining 5% of longleaf pine ecosystem in the U.S.
