“Unveiling the Unexpected: 3 Remarkable New Species Discovered in 2024!”

Every year, researchers incorporate thousands of new flora and fauna species into the scientific documentation. We delve into three that were included on the list.

ASMA KHALID, HOST:

Each year, scientists include thousands of new species into the scientific documentation. Joining us to discuss a few of them is NPR’s evolutionary biologist-turned-science correspondent, Jonathan Lambert. Good morning, Jon (ph).

JONATHAN LAMBERT, BYLINE: Good morning, Asma.

KHALID: So tell me what you found to be the most intriguing species added to the list.

LAMBERT: I want to begin with clouded tiger cats, primarily because they are incredibly adorable…

KHALID: OK.

LAMBERT: …But they also serve as a fantastic reminder that there are large, captivating species still awaiting discovery.

KHALID: What do they appear like?

LAMBERT: They are roughly the size of a domestic cat, but they resemble small leopards. Scientists previously believed there were only two species of them in South America. However, in 2009, a biologist named Tadeu de Oliveira, who is the authority on tiger cats, received an email that sparked his interest.

TADEU DE OLIVEIRA: When I first saw it, I was absolutely entranced.

KHALID: How did he ascertain that this was indeed a different species, distinguishing it from the other tiger cats?

LAMBERT: Yeah, he examined a significant number of tiger cats, and these appeared to differ slightly due to their distinct spots and thicker fur. On video, they also seemed to move differently. He had a suspicion, but it required him, along with about 40 other scientists, over a decade to conclusively prove that this was indeed a new species.

KHALID: Oh, wow.

LAMBERT: This illustrates that transforming an observation and a suspicion into the formal description of a new species can take an extensive amount of time.

KHALID: Jon, this is all incredibly intriguing to me, as I often hear about endangered species but tend to overlook the discovery of new species. This is certainly a refreshing aspect. What else do you have for us?

LAMBERT: Yes, I conversed with another biologist named Hugh Gabriel, who was an undergraduate when he began the journey to identify a new frog species in Madagascar.

HUGH GABRIEL: During an independent research project in the rainforest, I observed these frogs that appeared significantly different from anything in my guidebook.

LAMBERT: He informed me that these frogs were concealed among the leaves of trees, and they looked somewhat smaller with a sort of coppery bronze color. He contacted the author of the guidebook, who concurred that these frogs seemed to be quite different, and they collaborated.

KHALID: That’s amazing. So he identified a new species while still an undergraduate?

LAMBERT: Indeed. He actually described three new species, all of which thrive their entire lives in these trees. They lay their eggs, hatch, and consume small spiders all within the tiny pools of water that gather between the leaves. This type of lifestyle is atypical for frogs and quite fascinating.

KHALID: Where are we heading to next?

LAMBERT: I wish to remain in Madagascar, as it’s such a richly biodiverse region…

KHALID: OK.

LAMBERT: …and I want to include a plant on the list, specifically an orchid. Orchids are remarkable plants that possess nectar spurs—small tubes that dispense nectar to pollinators. This particular new species has a spur as long as a foot, which is the longest in relation to the flower size of any known plant. It is named Solenangis impraedicta, and it is pollinated by a moth with a tongue that is equally long.

KHALID: All right. This is all extremely captivating, Jon, but these species are being discovered at a time when much of the world’s biodiversity is facing challenges. How do you reconcile that?

LAMBERT: Yes, there is climate change, and there’s rampant deforestation. We are in jeopardy of losing these species just after scientists make their discoveries. Each of these species represents an irreplaceable clue to understanding how to survive on Earth, and scientists are racing against time to document them before it’s too late.

KHALID: Thank you for guiding us through all this, Jon.

LAMBERT: Thank you, Asma.

KHALID: That was NPR science correspondent Jonathan Lambert.

(SOUNDBITE OF NOBEL AND FRED PACI’S “SUNDAY SWAMP”)

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