DECEMBER 5, 2019
In 2019, researchers at the California Academy of Sciences added 71 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 17 fish, 15 geckos, eight flowering plants, six sea slugs, five arachnids, four eels, three ants, three skinks, two skates, two wasps, two mosses, two corals, and two lizards. More than a dozen Academy scientists—along with many more international collaborators—described the new species discoveries.
Proving that our vast and dynamic planet still contains unexplored places, the scientists discovered these new plants and animals across five continents and three oceans—venturing into Croatian caves, diving to extreme ocean depths, and surveying savanna forests. Their results help advance the Academy's mission to explore, explain, and sustain life.
"Despite decades of tirelessly scouring some of the most familiar and remote places on Earth," says Shannon Bennett, Ph.D., and Academy Chief of Science, "biodiversity scientists estimate that more than 90% of nature's species remain unknown. A rich diversity of plants and animals is what allows life on our planet to thrive: the interconnectedness of all living systems provides collective resilience in the face of our climate crisis. Each newly discovered species serves as an important reminder of the critical role we play in better understanding and preserving these precious ecosystems."
Below are highlights from the 71 new species described by the Academy in 2019.
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