Scientists boarded a submersible and plunged into the depths of the South China Sea. Thousands of feet below the surface, they encountered a “large” spine-covered creature. It turned out to be a new species. Researchers explored the South China Sea through a series of dives on a manned submersible in March 2021, according to a […]
Against the mossy rocks of towering cliffs in Thailand, a bright orange spot stands out in contrast. Segmented pieces fit together like a puzzle to form a spherical body. Then, it quickly unfurls and tons of tiny legs kick into motion to scuttle away. It’s a small millipede, and while most people might say it […]
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Fisheries Agency has proposed expanding commercial whaling along the country’s coast to fin whales, a larger species than the three currently permitted. The proposal comes five years after Japan resumed commercial whaling within its exclusive economic zone after withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission in 2019. It ended 30 years of […]
As night fell across Thailand, a pregnant creature with a “golden” tail emerged from its hiding spot on a rocky hill. The “colorful” animal set out in search of food; or at least, it tried to. Visiting scientists found the “golden”-tailed animal — and discovered a new species. Researchers visited Khao Ebid, a large rock […]
In a river drainage along the eastern coast of Brazil, rapid flowing freshwater pours into the Atlantic Ocean. Here, the rocks make the water turbulent, so few fish are able to navigate the current pulling toward the sea. But in between the smooth stones, brightly colored fish with fleshy whiskers move throughout the water. They […]
As warming sea temperatures and pollution continue to degrade the world’s coral reefs at an unprecedented rate, scientists are investigating the feasibility of preserving them — in outer space. The idea is to store a biorepository — a biobank that stores samples of biological material cooled to temperatures low enough it is essentially suspended in […]
Off the northern coast of Morocco on the Mediterranean Sea, a group of scuba divers hit the water. As they scoured the clear water above a sandy seafloor, they noticed something floating in the waves. Bell-shaped and translucent, it was a large jellyfish covered with small, white polka-dots. The scuba divers took a photo of […]
In the mountains of central China, a “large” pregnant creature perched at the edge of a forest. Down the scaly predator’s back ran a line of “heart-shaped” spots. Visiting scientists spotted the colorful animal — and discovered a new species. Researchers visited the Dadu River valley in Sichuan Province several times between 2018 and 2022, […]
Scuba divers strapped on their gear and plunged into the darkened waters off the coast of Florida. Equipped with flashlights, the divers searched the ocean and spotted a glowing sea creature with 15 tentacles. It turned out to be a new species Peter Schuchert and Richard Collins surveyed marine life near Palm Beach during 91 […]
On a hot and humid night in Vietnam, a scaly creature perched on a rock in the middle of a forest. The animal had yellow eyelids and a mosaic-like pattern. It turned out to be a new species. Scientists visited the forests of Binh Dinh Province several times between 2016 and 2022 to survey the […]
In a small, isolated swamp along the coast of Madagascar, a multi-colored fish swam just below the surface of the water. Near the top, the water was clear, allowing the light to reflect off the myriad of colors splashed across the fish’s scales. But as the water deepened, it became murky and dark. In 1994, […]
North Atlantic right whales teeter on the threshold of extinction, with only 360 of them left. To honor and celebrate the right whale, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts shared a dynamic video of a massive, 37-year-old right whale swimming with her newborn calf on social media April 24. The video was shot “earlier this […]