Accidental prehistoric discoveries and rare creatures dropping from trees: See the latest

The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Unique creatures, odd animals and new species are discovered across the planet. Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses.

Learn more about some of the best new discoveries:

Prehistoric creature — with ‘armor’-like skin — accidentally discovered. See new species

In southeastern Brazil, paleontologists discovered a new species of notosuchian crocodyliform, Thilastikosuchus scutorectangularis, dating back 120 million years. This small reptile, found during a 2013 expedition, features mammal-like teeth and rectangular-shaped osteoderms, providing it with a tough armor. The discovery highlights the importance of luck in scientific exploration and adds to our understanding of prehistoric life on the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. | Published Feb. 20 | Read More |

River creature ‘with tiny scales buried beneath’ its skin discovered as new species

In southern China’s Guizhou Province, researchers identified a new species of fish called the Gelao loach. This slender fish, with tiny scales beneath its skin, was discovered in an undersurveyed river and named after the Gelao people. The species’ unique physical features and genetic divergence from related loaches were key to its identification. | Published Feb. 20 | Read More |

Odd-colored creature seen falling from tree turns out to be first-of-its-kind sighting

In the rainforests of central Belize, a leucistic Spix’s disc-winged bat was spotted, marking the first documented case of leucism in this species. This bat, with its unusual white fur, was part of a colony found by wildlife rangers at the Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society research station. The discovery highlights the bat’s unique coloring and its potential impact on survival and socialization. | Published Feb. 21 | Read More |

Eyeless river creature with ‘visible’ skull found lurking in cave. It’s a new species

In the karst caves of Guangxi Province, China, scientists discovered the long-barbel cave loach, a new species of eyeless fish. This unique creature, with a visible skull and specialized adaptations for cave life, was found in subterranean river systems. The discovery emphasizes the need for protection measures due to the species’ sensitivity to environmental disturbances. | Published Feb. 21 | Read More |

‘Large’-eyed creature — with yellow fingertips — found in China. It’s a new species

In the Leigongshan Nature Reserve of southern China, scientists discovered Wei’s tree frog, a new species with “large eyes” and yellow fingertips. This moderate-sized frog, found in mountain forests, was named after professor Gang Wei for his contributions to amphibian studies. The discovery highlights the frog’s unique physical characteristics and genetic divergence from related species. | Published Feb. 24 | Read More |

McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery of the most unusual and intriguing new species. Check back for the latest studies.

This story was originally published February 28, 2025 at 11:45 AM with the headline "Accidental prehistoric discoveries and rare creatures dropping from trees: See the latest."