13 Amazing Animals Discovered in the Last Decade
A lot has happened in the past decade, and while we can fill history books with everything, there’s one thing we haven’t given much thought to animals. Believe it or not, Mother Nature surprised us with quite a few gems; here are animals that were discovered in the past few years:
Klingon Newt (Tylototriton Anguliceps)
Discovered in a forest in Thailand in 2015, this newt quickly caught attention for its appearance, which looked remarkably similar to the Klingons from Star Trek. It sports a mostly black body with ridged orange markings along its head, tail, and limbs. The Klingon newt remained hidden for a long time because it prefers to stay in cool, shady areas, preferably near streams and wetlands.
Olinguito (Bassaricyon Neblina)
Discovered in 2013, the Olinguito is part of the raccoon family with reddish-brown fur, large sparkling eyes, and an incredibly furry tail. The three-dweller spends time swinging from branches but drops to hunt other animals, making it the first new carnivorous species discovered in the Western Hemisphere in over 35 years.
Although the Olinguito had been spotted several times, it was always mistaken as another species. It naturally evaded discovery attempts until DNA testing confirmed it as a distinct species.
Himalayan Thrush (Zoothera Salimalii)
In 2016, a curious little thrush bird graced the eyes of scientists, who quickly noticed it differed dramatically from its alpine cousin. Identified as the Himalayan thrush, the bird lives and breeds in forests and even has a distinct song that distinguishes it from the alpine thrush. The little bird’s uniform plumage caught the eyes of bird lovers, who couldn’t help but admire this unique winged creature. The Himalayan thrush spends its time flying in parts of the Himalayas and is occasionally seen in Nepal, India, and Bhutan.
Peacock Jumping Spider (Maratus Personatus)
Dubbed the peacock jumping spider for its vibrant black, blue, and occasional yellow markings, the Maratus was previously believed to be just one member of its species until it was found in 2015 in Australia. Interestingly, like its cousin, this peacock jumping spider also performs attractive dances to entice partners, but that’s just about all we know of the critter. The jumping spider is remarkably adept at hiding in its surroundings, so it usually goes unseen or is confused with the mainstream species. It’s also one of the few spiders that can adapt to any environment.
Tapanuli Orangutan (Pongo Tapanuliensis)
Sumatra, Indonesia, is already famed for its orangutan species, so the Tapanuli went unnoticed until 2017, when it was finally described as a distinct species. The Tapanuli orangutan sports the same rust-colored coat as other orangutans but has a smaller skull and frizzier hair. The Tapanuli’s diet also differs from the rest; it occasionally eats caterpillars and conifer cones. Although it remained relatively hidden until its official classification, the Tapanuli orangutan has just close to 800 individuals, making it one of the most endangered primates in the world.
Skywalker Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock Tianxing)
Yet another animal named after a popular series, this gibbon was first described in 2017 by a group of scientists who adore Luke Skywalker from the Star Wars franchise, giving it its incredible name. The Skywalker Hoolock Gibbon has thin white eyebrows, giant blackish-brown bears, and darker tufts of fur along its sensitive areas. The gibbon’s scientific name holds an interesting etymology; the translation of Chinese words “tian” and “xing” are “heaven” and “movement,” a unique homage to the way the gibbon moves, swinging from one branch to another.
Wakanda Fish (Cirrhilabrus Wakanda)
If you think the name sounds familiar, you’re right; the Wakanda fish was named after the fictional nation from the Marvel universe and is a type of wrasse that thrives along Zanzibar’s coast. This is where the fish was found in 2019 and immediately noticed for bright purple hues that aren’t present in a regular wrasse like the one above. The Wakanda fish has yet to be studied in detail because it quickly hides behind deep reefs, giving us a look into what kind of mysteries our oceans hold.
Slender Rat (Gracillimus Radix)
The only known member of its genus and strictly endemic to the Mount Gandang-Dewata near Sulawesi’s Mamasa Regency in Indonesia, the slender rat or the Sulawesi root rat was first found in 2016. Even though its slender gray-brown tufted body, long tail, and small rounded ears, the species is a rare one compared to the one above to encounter thanks to its unique habitat. Additionally, it’s one of the few species to actively eat plants and animals, a choice it may have picked up after adaptation.
Attenborough’s Rubber Frog (Pristimantis Attenboroughi)
This unique little creature remains hidden in the Peruvian Andes, where it was discovered by two biologists who named it after the famous naturalist Sir David Attenborough. The creature was initially discovered in 2012 but was only named recently in 2017 after yet another discovery. The rubber frog is tiny, with a yellowish-brown hide and distinct dark dots scattered over it. Curiously enough, it’s one of the few frog species that directly hatches into frogs without any tadpole-living stage.
Phuket Horned Tree Agamid (Acanthosaura Phuketensis)
The Phuket Horned Tree Agamid is a species of lizard discovered on the namesake island in 2015. It has a horned spine, a head with spikes, and a dark body with a light underbelly. The lizard spends its time scouring the forest floor, quickly evading predators and curious creatures. This is why scientists are still getting to know this creature, but they hope to learn more to conserve and protect its species.
Waterfall Centipede (Scolopendra Cataracta)
In the early 2000s, researchers stumbled upon the waterfall centipede but didn’t know they were staring at a unique species until a decade later. In 2016, the species was once again discovered near a waterfall and was named cataracta, the Latin word for waterfall.
The critter is endemic to Southeast Asia, where researchers are finding specimens from Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos.
Yoda Beetle (Trigonopterus Yoda)
After specimens were collected from Sulawesi, this unique beetle was officially discovered in 2019 by Alexander Reidel and Raden Pramesa Narakusumosu. The duo named it after Yoda from Star Wars, either because they were too enamored by the series or because of the critter’s unique looks.
The beetle is endemic to Indonesia, and although we’re still learning about it, it has paved the way for remarkable conservation efforts.
Rainbow-headed Snake (Parafimbrios Lao)
Discovered in the steep karst cliffs in Laos around 2016, the Rainbow-headed snake has a sheen, grayish body, and a gem-like coloration on its head. Researchers who initially discovered it likened it to David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust, but some even call it the Laotian Bearded Snake. The snake has only been spotted twice, which is why there’s not much known about it.
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Emese Maczko is a travel blogger behind Eco Lodges Anywhere. Having explored several destinations around Europe, the US, Indonesia, and Australia, and resided in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Luxembourg, Emese possesses a keen understanding of diverse cultures and an appreciation for the beauty of each destination she visits. She advocates for sustainable travel and ecotourism.