Meet five new species discovered in 2025 : NPR

“This is a great example of science diplomacy,” Pyenson says, “where data sharing, making data open access and available when you publish, has the potential to actually form a metaphorical bridge between countries that maybe have not historically seen eye to eye.” You can view a 3D model of the sea cow fossil here. A beady-eyed mouse opossum living high up in the Peruvian Andes wasn’t what Silvia Pavan initially set out to find during her expedition in Río Abiseo National Park, but the new species gives yet another reason why this special region is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Pavan, an assistant professor at Cal Poly Humboldt, was on the hunt for a specific squirrel species when she and her colleagues came across an animal they eventually named Marmosa chachapoya to honor the Chachapoya people who formerly occupied the area. The tiny marsupial (which, despite its scientific name, is not a marmoset) was the first small mammal that the researchers collected on their trip. While the animal looked a lot like a mouse opossum, its long and delicate snout and home high in the mountains set it apart from other marmosa species. After Pavan returned with the samples, DNA analysis and a thorough examination of the skull confirmed the discovery of a new species in the high-altitude mountains where the expedition took place. Pavan emphasized the importance of studying these underexplored areas due to their unique biodiversity, highlighting the need for further exploration and research in the region. Pavan expressed concern about the impact of climate change and human activities on species, noting that many are disappearing before they are even discovered. During the expedition, the research team collected around 100 specimens for further identification. In Northern California, Marshal Hedin stumbled upon a previously unknown spider species, which he later identified as a new genus and named it after his home county. Using DNA analysis to confirm its distinctiveness, Hedin and his team returned to the river to find another specimen of the rare spider. Coauthor Rodrigo Monjaraz Ruedas was surprised by the vast diversity of spider species in the area and stressed the importance of genetic analysis in identifying species accurately. He shared findings from a project by the California Institute of Biodiversity, revealing that nearly 40% of all described spider species in the U.S. are found in California. The state has a variety of species, which Hedin and Monjaraz Ruedas discovered during their journey. They believe that this newfound knowledge will help others living in the same area appreciate the uniqueness of their home.

Elementary school teachings often depict frogs and toads going through a typical life cycle – from eggs to tadpoles to adults. However, scientists have recently uncovered three new toad species in Tanzania that defy this norm by giving birth to live young.

These unique species, all belonging to the genus Nectophrynoides, were a surprising find after over a century of research. Initially, the specimens collected were believed to be a single species due to their strikingly similar appearances.

Driven by curiosity, academic researcher Christoph Liedtke from the Spanish National Research Council embarked on a decade-long exploration to uncover potential biodiversity in the Tanzanian highlands. Collaborating with colleagues, they sought to identify multiple species within the Nectophrynoides genus.

The research posed challenges as many historical specimens lacked DNA sequencing data. Assistant lecturer John Lyakurwa from the University of Dar es Salaam described the process as a complex puzzle that required solving.

Through a collaborative effort with researchers from Denmark and Belgium, DNA was successfully extracted from over 200 museum specimens. Advanced sequencing techniques revealed the existence of three new toad species within the genus, expanding previous knowledge.

Concerns loom over the future of these toads as their populations dwindle, with one species already extinct and others not sighted in two decades. Lyakurwa’s PhD thesis focuses on unraveling the reasons behind this decline, emphasizing the significant evolutionary history at stake with the potential loss of these unique toads.