From a fleet of shining beetles to sharks
and an alarming bird virus, spanning 5 continents and 3 oceans, these
discoveries add to Earth's tree of life
Date: December 21, 2016
Source: California Academy
In 2016, researchers at the California
Academy of Sciences added 133 new plant and animal species to our family tree,
enriching our understanding of Earth's complex web of life and strengthening
our ability to make informed conservation decisions. The new species include
one bee fly, 43 ants, 36 beetles, one sand wasp, four spiders, six plants, 23
fishes, one eel, one shark, seven nudibranchs, five fossil urchins (and one
fossil sand dollar), one coral, one skate, one African lizard, and an alarming
new bird virus. More than a dozen Academy scientists -- along with several
dozen international collaborators -- described the discoveries.
Proving that our planet contains
unexplored places with never-before-recorded plants and animals (with their own
set of evolving viruses), the scientists made their finds over five continents
and three oceans, ventured into vast deserts, plunged beneath the sea, and
scoured thick rainforests and towering mountain ranges. Their results help advance
the Academy's mission to explore, explain, and sustain life on Earth.
"Biodiversity scientists estimate
that we have discovered less than 10% of the species on our planet," says
Dr. Shannon Bennett, Academy Chief of Science. "Academy scientists
tirelessly explore the lesser-known regions of Earth -- not only to discover
new species, but also to uncover the importance of these species to the health
of our natural systems. Each of these species, known and as-yet-unknown, is a
wonder unto itself but may also hold the key to ground-breaking innovations in
science, technology, or society. Species live together in rich networks that
thrive on complexity whether we can see it or not. Even the tiniest
organism," she adds, "can be beautiful and important."
Below are a few highlights among the 133
species described by the Academy in 2016.
Flashy "twilight zone" groppo
-- deepest fish discovered by human hands
One pink-and-yellow fish has earned its
spot in deep reef history. Grammatonotus brianne -- an eye-popping species
of groppo -- is the deepest new fish discovery ever made by human hands. The
discovery was captured on film at 487 feet beneath the ocean's surface.
Academy scientists are currently diving
to twilight zone reefs around the world. In these narrow bands of deep reefs,
animals live in partial darkness, well beyond recreational diving limits yet
above the deep trenches patrolled by submarines and ROVs. Reaching extreme
depths requires Academy divers and their collaborators to push the boundaries
of both technology and the human body, using closed-circuit
"rebreathers" that extend the amount of time they can spend
underwater.
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