New Species Good News

All of the best news about discoveries of new species

From left to right: a poison dart frog, a pika, a dumbo flapjack octopus

Scientists discovered thousands of new species in 2025. See 9 that wowed them, from the 'curiously isolated' butterfly to the screaming pika

From a butterfly shaped by 40,000 years of isolation to creatures 1,400 feet below the sea, scientists uncovered thousands of new species in 2025 — and these nine discoveries stood out amongst the rest.

A giant black spider with adoorable tiny eyes

A new species of spider with 'never-before-seen features' was discovered in Southern Morocco. It looks like a Pokémon

The male specimens of the family bear an uncanny resemblance to giant ladybugs.

A close up of an array of sea animals including sea slugs and a baby octopus

Tiny 'underwater hotels' for sea creatures help scientists collect 20 new species in ocean's twilight zone

Luiz Rocha has dedicated his life to the study of fish. His latest research uncovered a treasure trove of new sea creatures.

From left to right: pangolin, telescope octopus, and kultarr

16,000 new species are discovered every year. Experts say discovery 'far outpaces the rate of species extinctions'

Professor John Wiens from the University of Arizona has shed new light on the pace of new species discoveries — and how it compares to extinction rates.

A picture of the Serra do Quiriri mountain range in Brazil at sunrise, with an insert photo of a small pumpkin toadlet, an orange frog.

Scientists discover 'pumpkin toadlet' in Brazil’s misty cloud forests. It's a new species

Mini pumpkin toadlets are incredibly cute, highly poisonous, and very bad at jumping.

Scientists discover three new species of toad that give birth to tiny 'toadlets,' skipping the tadpole phase altogether

By studying over 250 toads across five museum collections, and going back over 100 years, researchers have found three new species that were hiding in plain sight.

An aerial view of the Amazon River Basin

A fingernail-sized fish was discovered in the Amazon. It has an organ that's never been seen before

A new fish may be small, but its the biggest of its genus, earning it the scientific name P. rex

A chameleon with a long nose appendage rests on a branch

Scientists discover funky-nosed 'Pinocchio chameleon' is actually three species. Here's the fun way to tell them apart

A new study shows that Madagascar’s “nose chameleons,” once confused as one species, are actually three distinct and rapidly evolving species

Wide: A picture of Robert Pattinson sporting a beard and smiling in a close-up. In a smaller insert: a microscopic image of a mushroom

These new species of 'stubble mushrooms' sport 'beard-like' whiskers. Scientists say they're key to conservation efforts

A 13-year hunt in Alberta just revealed 13 quirky new mushroom species — a miniature fungal treasure trove with big implications for conservation.

A black snake species in the grass. In a circle atop the photo is Steve Irwin holding a koala

Scientists discover new black, glossy snake species. They named it after Steve Irwin

The wolf snake is one of at least three other species that have been named after the iconic Crocodile Hunter.

A sponge creature with pinkish white balls -- a sea star has fallen into its trap.

New species discovered this Halloween: carnivorous 'death-ball' sponge and rare 'zombie worms' spotted among 30 new species

Scientists have confirmed 30 new deep-sea species, including a predatory “death-ball” sponge, showcasing how advanced technology is speeding up ocean biodiversity discovery.

The Himalayas pictured at a great distance

See the six butterfly species discovered in the Eastern Himalayas with golden, silver, and blue 'scales'

The study praises Indigenous communities for their critical conservation of the newly discovered butterfly species.