‘Eyeless’ animals and ‘fairy’ creatures: See this week’s new species discoveries
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 being 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 recent new species discoveries:
‘Eyeless’ river creature with ‘large hump’ found in cave. It’s a new species
In the dark waters of an underground river in southeastern China, researchers discovered the Wanlan cavefish, a new species with a “large hump” and “eyeless” appearance. This golden-brown fish was found in Guizhou Province and is named after the town of Wanlan where it was first discovered. | Published July 28 | Read More |
‘Mythical’ deep-sea creature — found by a submarine — is new species off Japan
Off the coast of Tokyo, the deep-sea submersible Shinkai 6500 discovered a new species of limpet, Bathylepeta wadatsumi, at depths of over 19,000 feet. Named after the god of the sea from Japanese mythology, this “mythical” creature was found attached to volcanic rock, marking the deepest discovery of this animal group. | Published July 28 | Read More |
‘Fairy’ creature that swims upside down discovered in a roadside pond in India
In a shallow roadside pond in India’s Western Ghats, researchers found a new species of “fairy shrimp” named Streptocephalus warliae. This ethereal creature, known for its upside-down swimming, was discovered on the Jawahar plateau and is named in honor of the indigenous Warli tribe. | Published July 28 | Read More |
Island creature — with vibrant orange belly — is a new species in Madagascar
In the forests of Madagascar, researchers discovered the Arne Hartig dwarf gecko, Lygodactylus arnei, distinguished by its vibrant orange belly. Found in Baie De Baly National Park, this arboreal gecko is named after wildlife photographer Arne Hartig for his contributions to gecko exploration. | Published July 30 | Read More |
Color-changing creature found calling at edge of forest. It’s a new species
In the forests of French Guiana, researchers identified Pristimantis fouqueti, a new species of rain frog known for its color-changing ability and “high-pitched” calls. Found in the tree canopies, this frog is named after Antoine Fouquet for his contributions to amphibian systematics. | Published July 31 | Read More |
McClatchy News continues to follow rare animals, new behaviors and even new species. Check back for the latest stories.
This story was originally published August 1, 2025 at 10:32 AM with the headline "‘Eyeless’ animals and ‘fairy’ creatures: See this week’s new species discoveries."