new species

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

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

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

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

Here comes the happy tube-nosed fruit bat.

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

Matthew Modoono / Northeastern University

"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."

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

It’s a partial pun on the gibbon’s Chinese name, which translates as “Heaven’s movement.”

RBG: Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States via Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain. Mantis: Rick Wherley, Cleveland Museum of Natural History

The new technique highlights and offers a remedy to the short-sightedness of current practices.

Sure, some latch on to your ankles and drink your blood, but leeches are just misunderstood parasitic worms.

Vásquez V.E. et al. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, 2015

The aptly named shark is cloaked in black from head to tail and emits a faint blue glow.

Geckos and shrubs and sharks, oh my! 2013 was a big year for new species. Scientists found hundreds of them this year. Here are some of our favorites.

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

Scientists Name Brazilian Cave Spider After Aragog from Harry Potter

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

The ‘Yoda Bat’ Gets an Even Cuter Name

Australian Scientists Discover First New Species of Sunfish in 125 Years

This Rare Shipworm Is Not Safe for Work

New Gecko Species Gets Naked to Escape Predators

New Ape Species Named for Skywalker Family

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Mantis Heralds New Era of Species Identification

10 Juicy Facts About Leeches

Scientists Identify Stealthy Ninja Shark

10 Awesome New Species Discovered in 2013