Blue-boned amphibians and sharp-toothed river creatures: See new species discoveries

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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:

‘Cryptic’ mountain creature with ‘blue’ bones discovered as new species in Ecuador

In the Andes mountains of eastern Ecuador, researchers discovered a new species of treefrog named Hyloscirtus maycu, or the Maycu stream frog. These frogs, found in the Maycu Nature Reserve, have “blue” bones and “smooth” skin, and they were spotted during nighttime surveys. The study highlights the frog’s vulnerability due to habitat loss. | Published March 14 | Read More |

‘Fragile’ deep-sea creature — with 20 tentacles — discovered as new species in Pacific

A new species of sea cucumber, Amphigymnas ganquani, was discovered in the South China Sea by a robot named “discovery.” This “fragile” creature, found 4,400 feet below the surface, is part of the Amphigymnas genus and has a “glass-like” skin and 20 tentacles. The discovery was part of a study on seamounts which are known as “diversity hotspots.” | Published March 14 | Read More |

3-foot-long river creature with ‘large’ teeth found in Vietnam. It’s a new species

In the Mekong River estuary near Ho Chi Minh City, researchers identified a new species of snake eel named Ophichthus cuulongensis. These eels, known for their “large” teeth and “dark brown” coloring, were found in brackish waters and are common at depths of 25 to 65 feet. Researchers named the species after the Vietnamese name “cửu long,” meaning “nine dragons.” | Published March 17 | Read More |

Creatures with dozens of ‘slender’ legs — some ‘leaf-like’ — are new species in Japan

Researchers discovered seven new species of millipedes in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan, belonging to the Xystodesmus genus. These millipedes, found in localized regions like limestone hills, are “strongly fluorescent” under UV light and have “leaf-like” legs. The study expands the known range of this genus considerably southward. | Published March 19 | Read More |

3-foot-long river creature with ‘sharp’ teeth discovered as new species in Vietnam

Another new species of snake eel, Ophichthus nguyenorum, was found in the Mekong River estuary. These “sharp”-toothed eels, reaching about 3 feet in length, were discovered during surveys in 2023. Researchers named the species after three doctors with the last name Nguyen for their contributions to fish classification in Vietnam. | Published March 19 | 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 March 21, 2025 at 9:34 AM with the headline "Blue-boned amphibians and sharp-toothed river creatures: See new species discoveries."