NEW SPECIES

Taylor Swift at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards.

Shake It Off: Taylor Swift Is the Namesake of a Newly Discovered Millipede

‘Nannaria swiftae’ was named by a dedicated Swiftie whose favorite Taylor Swift songs are ‘betty’ and ‘New Romantics.”

Meet the Sea Slug With the Disposable Penis

Fans of '90s alternative music may recall King Missile's big single, "Detachable Penis." While the song may have been silly, it turns out than in the animal world, the idea isn't all that bizarre—at least not to the sea slug Chromodoris reticulata.

Leonardo DiCaprio at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2020.

Meet Leo—A Critically Endangered Tree Species Named After Leonardo DiCaprio

Thanks to Leonardo DiCaprio’s environmental activism, there’s now a critically endangered species named in his honor.

Eumillipes persephone has legs and knows how to use them.

It's Official: With 1306 Legs, This Millipede Has the Most of Any Animal

Found 200 feet below ground in Australia, 'Eumillipes persephone' has 1306 legs to scamper around with.

An illustration of what Australotitan cooperensis may have looked like.

Meet 'Cooper,' a Recently Discovered Sauropod Believed to Be Australia’s Largest Dinosaur Species

Sauropod dinosaurs are known for their impressive size—and Australia’s newly discovered species doesn’t disappoint.

The chocolate frog on a very green leaf.

Scientists Have Identified a New ‘Chocolate Frog’ Species

We simply have to assume that at least one researcher made some reference to Harry Potter’s chocolate frogs when they found it.

The wacky Kaikaia gaga is fashionably just designed to be rad.

This New Insect Species Was Named After Lady Gaga for Its 'Wacky Fashion Sense'

There are a million reasons why we should be paying more attention to treehoppers, entomology student Brendan Morris says.

The skull of Oculudentavis khaungraae preserved in 99-million-year-old amber.

Tiny, Bird-Like Skull Found in Amber Could Belong to the Mesozoic Era's Smallest Known Dinosaur

Scientists discovered the skull of a bird-like dinosaur. More than 100 tiny teeth line the jaws of the skull, suggesting that this dinosaur was small but deadly (to insects).

Channel Your Inner Chef Monica Geller With This Friends-Themed Slow Cooker

Show off your 'Friends' fandom and culinary skills with this slow cooker decorated with illustrations such as the Central Perk couch, iconic quotes, and much more.

10 New Bird Species and Subspecies Discovered on Indonesian Islands

The discovery of 10 bird species and subspecies on three remote islands in Indonesia marks the first time in over a century that so many new birds have been found in such a small area.

7 Animals Named After Theodore Roosevelt

From big cats to tiny fish, the collection of animals named for Theodore Roosevelt is eclectic—just like our adventurous 26th president.

Shocker: This Electric Eel Delivers More Voltage Than Any Creature on Earth

The newly identified species of eel, 'Electrophorus voltai,' can deliver 860 volts to incapacitate prey.

shabeerthurakkal/iStock via Getty Images

Humongous, Chihuahua-Sized Species of Flying Squirrel Has Been Discovered in China

The new species belongs to a very endangered, mysterious genus of giant flying squirrels that each weigh as much as a small dog.

Paul Hermans, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

Tourists Are Picking Apart Britain's Oldest Tree

The Fortingall Yew in the Fortingall churchyard in Perthshire, Scotland is so stressed that it's changing sexes for the first time in millennia.

A Newly Discovered Species of Prehistoric Shark Was Named After the Video Game Galaga

'Galagadon' was believed to be similar to living bamboo sharks.

One known species of isopod, or "giant sea cockroach"

Bizarre New Species of Crabs and a Giant Sea Cockroach Discovered in Waters Off Indonesia

Researchers thought the foot-long sea cockroach was "cute."

Scientists Name Brazilian Cave Spider After Aragog from Harry Potter

Brazilian scientists gave a recenty identified cave spider the name Ochyrocera aragogue, after Hagrid's enormous pet spider Aragog.

After Years of Searching, Scientists Finally Found This Coconut-Cracking Giant Rat

The vika is the subject of folk songs and nursery rhymes, but scientists had never found a real specimen before.

The ‘Yoda Bat’ Gets an Even Cuter Name

Here comes the happy tube-nosed fruit bat.

Australian Scientists Discover First New Species of Sunfish in 125 Years

Sunfish are the biggest bony fish in the sea, but this species managed to elude scientists for centuries.

Matthew Modoono / Northeastern University

This Rare Shipworm Is Not Safe for Work

"When I took that thing out of the tube, there was a collective gasp among the whole group, along with quite a number of expletives."

Scientists Have Discovered Four New (Very Tiny) Night Frogs

Seven new frog species were discovered in all.

Scientists Discover "Giant Dwarf" Bushbaby

Experts say the oversized species represents “a whole new kind of bushbaby.”

New Gecko Species Gets Naked to Escape Predators

When trapped, the little lizard simply sheds its big scales and regrows them later.