Ashley Wells, Wisdom Quarterly; Sanden Totten (KPCC/SCPR.org, 5-24-13)
NEW: Blonde monkey! (scpr.org) |
A glow-in-the-dark cockroach and a carnivorous sea sponge? These aren't creatures from a science fiction movie: They are two of the new species cataloged in 2012.
On average, scientists discover an astonishing 18,000 new species a year. To showcase some of them, the International Institute for Species Exploration puts out a list of the 10 most fascinating newly found life forms.
Sneezing monkey of Burma discovered! |
Another find came to light through social media. Photographer Hock Ping Guek snapped a picture of a fly with lace-like wings in Kuala Lumpur. He posted the shot to flickr.com/explore.
Shaun Winterton, an entomologist with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, then stumbled across the image and realized it showed something new. The two of them teamed up to classify the bug.
Shaun Winterton, an entomologist with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, then stumbled across the image and realized it showed something new. The two of them teamed up to classify the bug.
Arizona State University's Quentin Wheeler helped compile the list. He says it's important to catalog the earth's inhabitants, since some are being lost as human populations grow.
"Many scientists think that as many as half of all the species on Earth many not survive the 21st century," Wheeler said. More
"Many scientists think that as many as half of all the species on Earth many not survive the 21st century," Wheeler said. More
Himalayan Yeti (factfictionandconjecture.ca) |
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