Newfound Species
Latest about newfound species
![Permafrost melts into the Kolyma River outside of Zyryanka, Russia in Siberia on July 4, 2019. In a new study, researchers looked for ancient viruses in several places in Siberia, including two rivers.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wsox6pkYysv9FbEdzQoSak-320-80.jpg)
'Zombie' viruses have been revived from Siberian permafrost. Could they infect people?
By Joanna Thompson last updated
Researchers have isolated viable microbes from melting permafrost after tens of thousands of years. But don't worry; they infect only amoebas.
![An artist's interpretation of the newfound giant petrel ripping into a dead seal about 3 million years ago in what is now New Zealand.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QJzExX9eYbqE6Vrn6drrAB-320-80.jpg)
3 million years ago, this brutish giant petrel likely eviscerated dead seals with its knife-like beak
By Ethan Freedman published
Fossils from New Zealand reveal the existence of a giant petrel with a wicked sharp beak that lived 3 million years ago.
![An illustration of Late Devonian animals.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SXTQU5w4UJsYcZmUWfBfqF-320-80.jpg)
Giant ancient fish that likely preyed on humans' ancestors unearthed in South Africa
By Sascha Pare published
Researchers in South Africa have unearthed 360 million-year-old fossils belonging to a newly described voracious fish species that preyed on our ancestors.
![A frog clings to a tree branch.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x7yxViRuyKtFjgcRaJ5ooZ-320-80.jpg)
Otherworldly 'Lord of the Rings' frog discovered in the mountains of Ecuador
By Sascha Pare published
A previously unknown frog species was discovered in Ecuador and named after fantasy author J. R. R. Tolkien.
![An artist's reconstruction of what Kumimanu fordycei and Petradyptes stonehousei may have looked like.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Fwi8eNhqJf5vhtKd9uReDT-320-80.jpg)
Largest penguin ever discovered weighed a whopping 340 pounds, fossils reveal
By Harry Baker published
Researchers in New Zealand have unearthed fossils from two previously unknown ancient penguin species. One of the new species is the largest penguin ever discovered.
![DiCaprio's snail-eating snake (Sibon irmelindicaprioae). This snake has an alternating striped cream and dark brown underbelly and alternating stripes of tan and dark brown on top. It also has a set of large orange eyes.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nkPdAeVXYyhRu5PMfzn5qP-320-80.jpg)
'Leonardo DiCaprio' snake with bright orange eyes discovered in Panama jungle
By Joshua A. Krisch published
Five species of previously unknown snakes with stunning eyes were discovered in jungle trees, and one was named after Leonardo DiCaprio. But mining threatens them all.
![A living specimen of the new species, Sinocyclocheilus longicornus, in a laboratory tank.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XUhefovqqaCFwW4jKhNreR-320-80.jpg)
Unicorn-like blind fish discovered in dark waters deep in Chinese cave
By Harry Baker published
Researchers stumbled across a bizarre species of blind cave fish with a mysterious, horn-like structure protruding from its head and a lack of scales or pigmentation.
![Here we see an illustration of a brown squirrel-like primate climbing a tree with an aurora in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xk8P4fAbL4AHnaRF43JTnA-320-80.jpg)
52 million years ago, strange primates lived in complete darkness in the Arctic
By Cameron Duke published
During the Eocene, the Arctic was a warm, swampy place that these primates called home.
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