new species

New Moby Dick-like termite species discovered

The discovery adds a 16th species to the South American roster of Cryptotermes termites.

In the canopies of a South American rainforest, a tiny soldier termite has stunned a team of international scientists with its whale-like features.

Cryptotermes mobydicki, the name given to the termite by the international research team — led by a University of Florida scientist — boasts features of an elongated head and hidden mandibles. It resembles the iconic sperm whale from Herman Melville’s classic novel — hence its name.

Microscopic views of an insect head showcasing various angles (A, B, C, D) with detailed features and a scale bar at 0.5 mm. — These slides show views of the termite soldier’s frontal prominence and elongated head resembling the head of a sperm whale, and how in both the whale and termite, the mandibles are eclipsed by the head. Photo provided by Rudolph Scheffrahn.

“This termite is unlike anything we’ve ever seen,” said Rudolf Scheffrahn, professor of entomology at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

The specimen was so distinctive that the team of international entomologists thought it was looking at specimens of an entirely new genus, said Scheffrahn, whose taxonomic research is based at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.

This termite is unlike anything we’ve ever seen
Rudolf Scheffrahn

“The lateral view of the soldier’s frontal prominence and elongated head resembles the head of a sperm whale, and in both organisms, the mandibles are eclipsed by the head,” he said. “The whale’s eye and soldier’s antennal socket are comparatively positioned. After I noticed the resemblance to a sperm whale, my coauthors thought the name to be appropriate and whimsical, much like ‘ghost orchid’ or ‘Dumbo octopus.’”

The discovery adds a 16th species to the South American roster of Cryptotermes termites. A genetic family tree analysis shows that Cryptotermes mobydicki is closely related to other neotropical species found in Colombia, Trinidad and the Dominican Republic, giving scientists a new clue into the evolutionary story of this globally distributed genus.

Moby Dick attacks a ship, its massive jaws open wide, while birds fly overhead in the ocean scene. — Illustration from an early edition of Moby-Dick.

Researchers found the colony in a dead, standing tree about eight meters off the forest floor. It’s unusual anatomy highlights the diversity of termite evolution and the surprises still waiting in tropical ecosystems.

“The discovery of this distinctive new termite species underscores the vast number of unnamed organisms yet to be discovered on our planet,” said Scheffrahn.

To scientists, discovery is also a win for biodiversity. Every new species discovered adds to scientific understanding of life on earth, especially in a group as small as termites with only about 3,000 species worldwide.

There is also good news for Florida property owners. As a newly described drywood termite species, Cryptotermes mobydicki is no threat to homes or trade. Unlike other invasive termites that cause costly damage in parts of the southeastern United States, this species is found only in its rainforest habitat and does not spread beyond it.

Research article:

Scheffrahn RH, Buček A, Sillam-Dussès D, Šobotník J (2025) Cryptotermes mobydicki (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae), an extraordinary new termite species from French Guiana. ZooKeys 1258: 305-311. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1258.166021

Story originally published by: Lourdes Mederos, University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Republished with permission.

New critically endangered ‘fairy lantern’ discovered in Malaysia

Just 20 individuals of the unusual species are known to exist in the wild.

Researchers in Malaysia have discovered a new endemic ‘fairy lantern’ species with fewer than 20 individuals known to exist in the wild.

Despite having only just being discovered, the ethereal plant is considered Critically Endangered according to the IUCN Red List due to its tiny population and threatened habitat.

Take a look at the incredible Thismia selangorensis below!

Thismia selangorensis. Credit: Gim Siew Tan.
Thismia selangorensis. Credit: Gim Siew Tan.
Thismia selangorensis. Credit: Gim Siew Tan.
Thismia selangorensis. Credit: Gim Siew Tan.

Described in the open-access journal PhytoKeys, the peach-to-pink Thismia selangorensis joins the expanding Thismia genus, which includes 120 known species of mycoheterotrophic plants. Unlike familiar phytosynthetic plants, mycoheterotrophic species lack chlorophyll and do not get their energy from the sun. Instead, they depend solely on a parasitic relationship with fungi in the soil for their nutrition.

Exquisite but endangered: new ‘fairy lantern’ flower discovered in Malaysia

Species from this genus are typically found in undisturbed forests rich in leaf litter, where moist and shaded soils allow them to remain hidden for much of their lives, making their discovery extremely difficult.

Thismia selangorensis was no exception. Standing at only around 10 cm tall, with coral‑like roots and a peach-to-pink flower that develops into a distinctive umbrella‑shaped “mitre” topped by three slender club‑shaped appendages, Thismia selangorensis had gone unnoticed despite decades of human activity in its habitat.

Among the earlier individuals found, one was located in a hole at the base of a tree, as if living in a cave. Later, a few more individuals were found in more open areas near tree buttresses along the riverbanks.

Four images of Thismia selangorensis. — *Thismia* *selangorensis*. A. Young flower that is not yet fully developed ; B. Mature flower living just beside the roots of a tree buttress; C. A clump of T. *selangorensis* at different stages in its natural habitat (FRI 79182); D. A clump of flowers showing a different stage of mitre. Credit: Gim Siew Tan (**A–C**) and Mohd Faizal (D).

“This discovery shows that significant scientific finds are not limited to remote jungles; they can also be made in ordinary environments where constant human activity leaves little room for expectation. Protecting Thismia selangorensis will require cooperation among researchers, the forest department, stakeholders, and the public, as its survival depends on how carefully we tread in its habitat.”
Siti-Munirah Mat Yunoh (FRIM), lead author of the research paper.

Sun-shunning thief: new plant species robs underground fungi to survive

Naturalist Tan Gim Siew first spotted the elusive species in November 2023 during a routine photography visit to Taman Eko Rimba Sungai Chongkak, part of the Hulu Langat Forest Reserve and a long‑established picnic and camping destination near Kuala Lumpur. A tiny plant was growing among moist leaf litter near the buttress roots of a riverside tree. Follow-up surveys revealed that fewer than 20 individuals were present, with an estimated occupied habitat of only four km².

Video showing the public nature of Thismia selangorensis‘s habitat. Credit: Gim Siew Tan.

The authors highlight that, although part of the Sungai Chongkak forest remains relatively intact, plants growing close to riverside campsites and picnic areas could easily be destroyed unintentionally by trampling or flooding. They recommend careful management of visitor access around known sites, continued monitoring of the population and further botanical surveys to clarify whether the species occurs beyond its currently known locality.

“The most important effort now is to raise awareness about this species so the public realises that it exists – right here, in this small corner of the world, and nowhere else, at least for now. Understanding its presence is the first step towards ensuring that this extraordinary plant is not lost before many people even know it exists.”
Siti-Munirah Mat Yunoh (FRIM), lead author of the research paper.

Original source

Siti-Munirah MY, Gim Siew T, Mat-Tahir MF, Azhar A (2025) Thismia selangorensis (Thismiaceae): a new mitriform fairy lantern species from Selangor, Malaysia. PhytoKeys 267: 9-21. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.267.157968

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Newly discovered orchid faces ‘foretold’ extinction

Inspired by its seemingly doomed fate, the Colombian species was named after the protagonist of Gabriel García Márquez’s Chronicle of a Death Foretold.

“There had never been a death so foretold.”
Gabriel García Márquez.

When researchers discovered an unknown orchid species growing in the cloud forests and páramos of Colombia’s Western and Central Andes, they were struck by the iconic first line of Gabriel García Márquez’s 1981 novella Chronicle of a Death Foretold.

Photgraphs of Lepanthes nasariana, a newly discovered orchid. — *Lepanthes* *nasariana*. A. Flower, frontal view; B. Leaf, showing its thick, succulent morphology; C. Habit of the plant, showing the growth form and habitat. Photographs by J.S. Moreno.

Found thriving in lush, humid habitats at altitudes between 2,800 and 3,600 metres, Lepanthes nasariana is currently assessed as “Least Concern” according to IUCN Red List criteria. But its discovery is shadowed by a grim future, and a team of Colombian botanists has issued an urgent wake-up call after projecting its likely extinction within decades due to climate change.

Drawing inspiration from the tragic fate of protagonist Santiago Nasar, the researchers have termed their finding the “Nasar Effect”: a phenomenon where new species are described even as their demise is foretold by the conditions that threaten them. In the novella, Nasar’s impending death is known to everyone but himself, reflecting the fate of this new species.

Gabriel García Márquez portrait photo. — Gabriel García Márquez.

Chronicle of a Death Foretold cover. — *Chronicle of a Death Foretold* cover.

Published in the open-access journal PhytoKeys, the researchers’ models show Lepanthes nasariana could lose up to 96% of its suitable habitat by 2090 under a worst-case climate scenario, shrinking the orchid’s presence to tiny refugia in just two Colombian national parks.

The projected impact of rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns would, under more severe climate projections, qualify it as “Critically Endangered” in less than a century. This trajectory is reflected in numerous high-Andean species, many still unknown to science, whose fates may soon be sealed by global warming.

Projected changes in the potential distribution of *Lepanthes nasariana* under future climate scenarios. A. scenario for 2070; B. scenario for 2070; C. scenario for 2090; D. scenario for 2090. Blue indicates stable habitat, red indicates habitat loss. Each map represents the ensemble average of multiple GCMs under intermediate (SSP2-4.5) and high (SSP5-8.5) greenhouse gas emission pathways.

“Like the fate of Santiago Nasar, Lepanthes nasariana lives under a prophecy it cannot hear. Its extinction foretold by the warming of the very clouds that cradle it. Yet, in naming it, we hope to break that spell, to remind the world that there is still time to change the ending,” said the research team behind the discovery.

Original source

Moreno JS, Herrera Cobo AT, Palacio RD, Hazzi NA (2025) Chronicle of a death foretold: Lepanthes nasariana (Orchidaceae, Pleurothallidinae), a newly described high-Andean orchid facing a worst-case climate change scenario. PhytoKeys 266: 219-240. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.266.161410

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New snake species named in honor of Steve Irwin

The species is glossy black, reaches up to a meter in length, and is non-venomous. It is believed to be endemic to the island.

A new species of wolf snake was discovered from the Great Nicobar Islands, India.

A black snake with glossy scales is depicted in the grass, flicking its tongue, surrounded by grass. — Photo by Girish Choure.

Researchers R. S. Naveen and S. R. Chandramouli of the Pondicherry University, Zeeshan A. Mirza of the Max Planck Institute for Biology and Girish Choure of Pune published the discovery in the open-access journal Evolutionary Systematics.

A coiled black snake with glossy scales resting on a mossy surface. — Photo by S. R. Chandramouli.

The team named the new species Irwin’s wolf snake, or Lycodon irwini, after the late Stephen Robert Irwin, the renowned Australian zookeeper, conservationist, television personality, and wildlife educator. “His passion and dedication to wildlife education and conservation have inspired naturalists and conservationists worldwide, including the authors of the paper,” they write in their study.

A sleek, dark snake coiled on a log against a dark background. — Photo by Girish Choure.

The adults of the new species are glossy black and can grow to a meter in length. The snakes are non-venomous and likely feed on reptiles, amphibians and small mammals. Currently, the species appears to the endemic to the Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago. Based on the narrow distribution range and potential human threats to the species, the authors suggest that it should be considered Endangered.

“New species continue to be discovered, exemplified by Lycodon irwini, highlighting the ongoing progress in taxonomy and the incomplete understanding of herpetofaunal diversity and distribution in the region,” the researchers write in their paper.

Research article:

Naveen RS, Mirza ZA, Choure G, Chandramouli SR (2025) A ‘Crikey’ new snake: An insular Lycodon Fitzinger, 1826 (Squamata, Colubridae) from the Nicobar Archipelago, India. Evolutionary Systematics 9(2): 221-228. https://doi.org/10.3897/evolsyst.9.170645

Three new toad species skip the tadpole phase and give birth to live toadlets

Guest blog post from the University of Copenhagen. Read their press release here.

An international team of researchers have identified three new species of enchanting, pustular, tree-dwelling toads from Africa. Their solution for having offspring away from water? Skipping the tadpole phase altogether, and giving birth to live toadlets. The study is published in the open-access scientific journal Vertebrate Zoology.

Face-on photograph of a toad. — One of the newly described toad species, *Nectophrynoides luhomeroensis*. Photo credit: John Lyarkurwa

Most textbooks will tell you only one story of frog reproduction: Eggs to tadpoles to froglets to adults. But for three newly discovered species found in Tanzania this is not the case. The three new species of frogs belong to an unusual group of African toads in the genus Nectophrynoides — commonly called “tree toads.”

Instead of laying eggs that hatch into tadpoles, the female tree toads carry their offspring inside their bodies and give birth to fully formed, tiny toads. This makes them among the very few amphibians in the world capable of internal fertilization and true live birth.

“It’s common knowledge that frogs grow from tadpoles—it’s one of the classic metamorphosis paradigms in biology. But the nearly 8000 frog species actually have a wide variety of reproductive modes, many of which don’t closely resemble that famous story” says Assoc. Prof. Mark D. Scherz, Curator for Herpetology at the Natural History Museum Denmark, a coauthor on the study.

Side-on photograph of a toad. — Like its relatives, *Nectophrynoides luhomeroensis* has large skin glands all over its body. Photo credit: Michele Menegon.

Only a handful of frog species from South America and southeast Asia have developed similar strategies making these toads a rare case in the animal kingdom.

“Live-bearing is exceptionally rare among frogs and toads, practiced by less than 1% of frogs species, making these new species exceptionally interesting,” says H. Christoph Liedtke a co-author from the Spanish National Research Council, who has specialized in the evolution of amphibian reproductive modes.

120-year-old frog DNA

Back in 1905, a German researcher, Gustav Tornier, presented to the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin, the discovery of a toad from Tanzania that, astonishingly, gives birth to live young. At the time, it was the only known species of frog in the world to do so.

Side-on photograph of a beige and black toad. — One of the newly described toad species, *Nectophrynoides uhehe*. Photo credit: Michele Menegon.

The frogs originally found by Tornier are today housed at the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, and the research team were able to secure DNA from the original frogs using methods collectively known as ‘museomics’.

“Some of these specimens were collected over 120 years ago. Our museomics work was able to reveal exactly which populations those old specimens belonged to, giving us a lot more confidence for future work on these toads,” says Dr Alice Petzold of the University of Potsdam, who carried out the museomics portion of the study.

“Phylogenetic work from a few years ago had already let us know there was previously unrecognised diversity among these toads. But by travelling to different natural history museums and examining hundreds of preserved toads, I was able to get a better idea of their morphological diversity, so we could describe these new species,” says Christian Thrane from University of Copenhagen and first author on the study.

Protecting endangered species

Beyond its evolutionary interest, the discovery could have important implications for conservation. Many of these live-bearing toads inhabit small, fragmented habitats and are under threat from deforestation, mining, and climate change.

The new species are from the Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM) of Tanzania, an imperiled biodiversity hotspot famed for the many species that are found nowhere else on Earth. These mountains that rise from the plains are cloaked in lush forests, but Dr Michele Menegon, another coauthor on the study who works for a conservation organisation whose work focuses on forest protection, notes how highly fragmented these habitats are and that this is impacting the biodiversity, including the toads that dwell there.

Rainforest stream. — *Nectophrynoides* species are often found near rainforest streams in the Eastern Arc mountains of Tanzania. Photo credit: Michele Menegon.

His colleague from the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzia raises the same concern.

“The forests where these toads are known to occur are disappearing quickly,” says John V. Lyakurwa, a researcher from the University of Dar es Salaam, who has been studying amphibians in the EAM, including these toads, and a coauthor on the study.

Most of the tree toads are already on the brink of extinction, with one species in this genus, Nectophrynoides asperginis, already extinct in the wild, and another Nectophrynoides poyntoni not observed since its discovery in 2003. The future of these beautiful toads is very uncertain.

Original source

Thrane C, Lyakurwa JV, Liedtke HC, Menegon M, Petzold A, Loader SP, Scherz MD (2025) Museomics and integrative taxonomy reveal three new species of glandular viviparous tree toads (Nectophrynoides) in Tanzania’s Eastern Arc Mountains (Anura: Bufonidae). Vertebrate Zoology 75: 459-485. https://doi.org/10.3897/vz.75.e167008

Devilishly distinctive new bee species discovered in WA Goldfields

Named for the female’s horned face and the Netflix character Lucifer, it’s the first new addition to its group in over 20 years.

A new native bee species with tiny devil-like “horns” named Megachile (Hackeriapis) lucifer has been discovered in Western Australia’s Goldfields, highlighting how much remains unknown about Australia’s native pollinators.

A woman in a wide-brimmed hat and plaid shirt holds a butterfly net outdoors, surrounded by greenery and sunlight. — Dr Kit Prendergast

The striking new bee was found during surveys of a critically endangered wildflower Marianthus aquilonarius that grows only in the Bremer Range region, which is between the towns of Norseman and Hyden.

Lead author Curtin Adjunct Research Fellow Dr Kit Prendergast, from the Curtin School of Molecular and Life Sciences, said the female bee’s unusual horned face inspired its name lucifer – Latin for “light-bringer,” but also a playful nod to the devilish look.

“I discovered the species while surveying a rare plant in the Goldfields and noticed this bee visiting both the endangered wildflower and a nearby mallee tree,” Dr Prendergast said.

A purple flower blooms among green pods and leaves. — The two plants visited by Megachile Lucifer. Left: *Marianthus aquilonaris*. Right: *Eucalyptus livida*.

A close-up of a eucalyptus tree featuring green leaves and clusters of fluffy white flowers against a blue sky. — The two plants visited by Megachile Lucifer. Left: *Marianthus aquilonaris*. Right: *Eucalyptus livida*.

“The female had these incredible little horns on her face. When writing up the new species description I was watching the Netflix show Lucifer at the time, and the name just fit perfectly. I am also a huge fan of the Netflix character Lucifer so it was a no-brainer.

“DNA barcoding confirmed the male and female were the same species and that it didn’t match any known bees in DNA databases, nor did the specimens I had collected morphologically match any in museum collections.

“It’s the first new member of this bee group to be described in more than 20 years, which really shows how much life we still have to discover – including in areas that are at risk of mining, such as the Goldfields.”

Dr Prendergast said the discovery highlighted the importance of understanding native bees before their habitats are disturbed.

New unusual bee species discovered with dog-like snout

“Because the new species was found in the same small area as the endangered wildflower, both could be at risk from habitat disturbance and other threatening processes like climate change,” Dr Prendergast said.

“Many mining companies still don’t survey for native bees, so we may be missing undescribed species, including those that play crucial roles in supporting threatened plants and ecosystems.

“Without knowing which native bees exist and what plants they depend on, we risk losing both before we even realise they’re there.”
Dr Kit Prendergast

The publication of the research coincides with Australian Pollinator Week, an annual celebration of the crucial role bees, butterflies and other insects play in maintaining healthy ecosystems and food production.

The research was supported by the Atlas of Living Australia, the Goldfields Environmental Management Group and the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

Research article:

Prendergast KS, Campbell JW (2025) Megachile (Hackeriapis) lucifer (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae), a new megachilid with demon-like horns that visits the Critically Endangered Marianthus aquilonaris (Pittosporaceae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 98: 1017-1030. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.98.166350

First ever discovery of Lepidosira springtails in China reveals four new species

The tiny arthropods were found in Yintiaoling National Nature Reserve, a biodiversity hotspot.

Researchers from Nantong University have announced the discovery of four new species belonging to the springtail genus Lepidosira in China, representing the first record of this genus in the country.

The findings, confirmed by both advanced molecular and traditional morphological analysis, are published in the latest issue of Museum für Naturkunde Berlin’s open-access entomology journal Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift.

Led by researchers Xiaowei Qian, Meidong Jing, and Yitong Ma, the study involved extensive fieldwork in the Yintiaoling National Nature Reserve in Chongqing, a biodiversity hotspot in southwestern China.

Springtail on a dark background. — *Lepidosira* *wuxiensis* sp. nov. A, B. Habitus (lateral view). Scale bars: 500 μm. Credit: Qian et al.

Through COI barcoding and meticulous examination of physical characteristics, the team identified and described four species new to science: Lepidosira apigmenta, L. similis, L. wuxiensis, and L. chongqingensis. These species expand scientific understanding of the diversity and evolution of springtails: tiny, soil-dwelling arthropods that play a critical role in ecosystem health and soil fertility.

In addition to introducing these new species, the study proposes taxonomic updates, including the transfer and renaming of two previously known Chinese species based on their true affinities to Lepidosira. The use of genetic barcoding was key to overcoming the limitations of identification methods based only on colouration, a common but unreliable trait in traditional Collembola taxonomy.

The research team also provides an updated identification key for the scaled genera of the subfamily Entomobryinae, further facilitating future studies in the region.

This discovery highlights the richness of endemic species in China and the importance of continued exploration in under-studied habitats. The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Large Instruments Open Foundation of Nantong University.

Original source
Qian X, Jing M, Ma Y (2025) First report of Lepidosira (Collembola, Entomobryidae) from China, with description of four new species under the aid of COI barcoding. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 72(2): 341-365. https://doi.org/10.3897/dez.72.153961

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Ocean species discovered! Researchers team up to describe 14 new marine animals

Coordinated by the Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance, the publication series aimed at speeding up the process of describing new species.

Earth’s vast oceanic biodiversity remains largely unexplored, with only a fraction of an estimated two million total living marine species formally named and described. A significant challenge is the protracted delay, often spanning decades, between the initial discovery of a new species and its official publication.

Ocean Species Discoveries was established to address this critical gap, offering a high-quality, data-rich publication platform specifically tailored for concise marine invertebrate species descriptions. This revolutionary approach can significantly accelerate the timeline for new species descriptions, a vital advantage given the escalating threat of human-driven biodiversity loss, which risks species becoming extinct before scientists even know they exist.

The race to discover biodiversity: 11 new marine species and a new platform for rapid species description

The initiative is coordinated by the Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA), a project of the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt aimed at facilitating global collaboration, offering technical support for species documentation, and promoting efficient taxonomic publishing.

The second major collection in the Ocean Species Discoveries had over 20 researchers working together to describe 14 new marine invertebrate species and two new genera from all over the world, including worms, mollusks, and crustaceans. They published their research in a scientific paper in Biodiversity Data Journal, a year after the project’s pilot publication.

“Our shared vision is making taxonomy faster, more efficient, more accessible and more visible,” the team said in their paper.

The newly established Discovery Laboratory at the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt proved critical help in describing most of the new species. The Laboratory offers access to integrative research methods such as light and electron microscopy, confocal imaging, molecular barcoding, and micro-CT scanning, making it easy for researchers to produce the high-quality data necessary for robust species descriptions.

The animals studied in this project come from ocean depths ranging from 1 to over 6,000 meters. The deepest-living animal the researchers explored is Veleropilina gretchenae, a new species of mollusk that was recovered from the Aleutian Trench at a depth of 6,465 meters. It is one of the first species in the class Monoplacophora to have a high-quality genome published directly from the holotype specimen.

Close-up of a smooth, pale blue clam shell with concentric ridges on a dark background. — *Veleropilina gretchenae*.

A landmark achievement in this collection is the anatomical description of the carnivorous bivalve Myonera aleutiana, which represents only the second bivalve species documented in detail using solely non-invasive micro-CT scanning. The process generated over 2,000 tomographic images, providing unprecedented clarity on the bivalve’s internal tissues and soft-body parts. This is the first study to offer detailed anatomy information on any Myonera species.

Close-up of a pale, ridged seashell with a rounded shape against a black background. — *Myonera aleutiana*.

Its description also marks a new depth record: it was found at depths of 5,170–5,280 meters, about 800 meters deeper than any other documented Myonera individual.

One of the newly described species honours Johanna Rebecca Senckenberg (1716–1743), a naturalist and benefactor who supported science and medicine, which contributed to the forming of the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research. The amphipod Apotectonia senckenbergae was discovered in a mussel bed at the Galápagos Rift hydrothermal vent fields at a depth of 2,602 meters.

Line drawing of a stylized, detailed isopod. — *Zeaione everta*.

Some of the deep-sea inhabitants have curious appearances: the parasitic isopod Zeaione everta exhibits distinctive protuberances on the female’s back that resemble popped kernels of popcorn. The genus name, which derives from the corn genus Zea, reflects this resemblance. Found in the Australian intertidal zone, this species also represents a new genus.

The paper also sheds more light on known deep-sea species such as the tusk shell Laevidentalium wiesei, found at depths of more than 5,000 meters. The researchers found out it was carrying its own secret hitchhiker, a sea anemone attached to the shell’s anterior (concave) side. This is the first time an interaction of this kind is reported in the genus Laevidentalium.

Four elongated shells displayed against a black background. — *Laevidentalium wiesei*.

Research article:

(SOSA) SOSA, Andrade LF, Boyko CB, Brandt A, Buge B, Dávila Jiménez Y, Henseler M, Hernández Alcántara P, Jóźwiak P, Knauber H, Marcondes Machado F, Martínez-Muñoz CA, Momtazi F, Nakadera Y, Qiu J-W, Riehl T, Rouse GW, Sigwart JD, Sirenko B, Souza-Filho JF, Steger J, Stępień A, Tilic E, Trautwein B, Vončina K, Williams JD, Zhang J (2025) Ocean Species Discoveries 13–27 — Taxonomic contributions to the diversity of Polychaeta, Mollusca and Crustacea. Biodiversity Data Journal 13: e160349. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.13.e160349

New semi-slug species named after Pensoft’s founder Prof. Lyubomir Penev

Ostracolethe penevi, an endemic semi-slug, was described as a new species living in the leaves of northern Vietnam’s moisture-loving shrubs and grasses

Pensoft is delighted to announce that a new species of semi-slug was named after our CEO and founder, Prof. Lyubomir Penev.

Endemic to Vietnam,Ostracolethe penevi was described as new to science in a study in ZooKeys’ 1249^th issue.

“The new species is named after Prof. Dr Lyubomir Penev for his incredible contribution to the reputation of Bulgarian science and his tireless, friendly support over the years,” the authors write in their paper, which was published in Pensoft’s flagship, open-access zoology journal.

In 2023, Dr. Ivailo Dedov of the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Quang Manh Vu of the Hoa Binh University in Hanoi, and Dr. Tuan Trieu Anh of Vietnam’s Hung Vuong University collected slugs and semi-slugs of the superfamily Helicarionoidea in northern Vietnam.

“About 15 km from Sa Pa town in northern Vietnam, a pure stream of water cascades down from a mountain cleft about 200 meters high. From a distance, the waterfall appears like a silver-white silk ribbon shimmering amid the immense greenery, which is why it is called the ‘Silver Waterfall.’ It marks the beginning of the Ô Quy Hồ Pass—a meeting place for nature lovers, adventurers, and creative spirits alike,” says prof. Vu.

A waterfall cascades into a calm pool, surrounded by lush greenery and rocky terrain. — The locality of Ostracolethe *penevi* Dedov in Vietnam’s Lào Cai Province.

“In my second expedition to Vietnam we managed to collect many slugs and semi-slugs (that have a reduced shell which can’t fit their entire body). Later, in Sofia, when we started identifying our specimens, two species grabbed our attention with their unusual anatomy,” Dr. Dedov explains.

A white structure with interconnected loops and shapes, set against a black background. — Ostracolethe penevi’s net structure.

“I dissected a specimen that turned out to be a new species, probably of the genus Ostracolethe. In it, I found an unusual structure consisting of eight interconnected ‘Olympic rings’ in two rows whose functions for now remain unknown.”

“When I found out I had a new species, I had no hesitation on the name: Ostracolethe penevi. I had been looking forward to naming a curious species after my friend and PhD supervisor Prof. Lyubomir Penev, a man who made the world look up to Bulgarian science and also changed the way taxonomy and biodiversity information is published worldwide; someone who has helped me a lot through the years.”

“This newly described species deserves a name that reflects the generosity of nature, the advancement of science, and the enduring friendship between Vietnam and Bulgaria,” Prof. Vu adds.

Ostracolethe penevi is about 4 cm long and lives in the leaves of moisture-loving shrubs and grasses. Its slender body is mostly light-yellowish-ocher in colour, with gray-blackish stripes on the neck and yellowish tentacles.

A close-up photo of a brown semi-slug on a green leaf, displaying with a slimy body and two prominent antennae. — Ostracolethe penevi.

“An unusually structured species dedicated to an extraordinary personality!,” concludes Dr. Dedov.

The other semi-slug the research team explored in their ZooKeys study, Ostracolethe fruhstorfferi, can actually change colours, not unlike a chameleon.

“While I was trying to take a good photograph of a live specimen, placing it on different kinds of surfaces, I found the animal changed colouration depending on the substrate,” Dr. Dedov explains.

“When a specimen was photographed on a stone surface it looked whitish transparent, and only melanin kept the pattern of colouration. The very same specimen photographed on tree bark became more colourful, and pinkish, ocher, brownish, and yellowish colours appeared,” the team write in their paper.

Two close-up images of a slimy mollusk, labeled A and B, showcasing different angles and textures on a natural surface. — The same specimen of *Ostracolethe fruhstorfferi* A. On rock surface, and B. On tree bark.

“It turned out that I was observing the first land snail with what is called metachrosis: changing colours for the purpose of blending in with the environment and passive protection,” says Dr. Dedov.

The research team suggests this might be possible thanks to a torus-toroid (doughnut-like) structure described in literature as “enigmatic and with unknown functions.”

“Congratulations on the discovery and formal description of a new species for science—Ostracolethe penevi—named in honor of Prof. Penev, a sincere and esteemed friend of Vietnam, as well as the Founder and CEO of Pensoft,” says Prof. Vu in conclusion.

Research article:

Dedov I, Manh Vu Q, Trieu Anh T (2025) Slugs and semi-slugs of the superfamily Helicarionoidea (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora) collected in North Vietnam during the 2023 Bulgarian Zoological Expedition, with emphasis on the genus Ostracolethe. ZooKeys 1249: 317-338. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1249.155684

New agamid lizard described from China

At 6–7 cm long with a wheat-coloured tongue and distinct markings, it’s the 47th Diploderma species recorded in China.

Researchers from China just described a new species of mountain lizard from the upper Dadu River Valley in the Hengduan mountains of Sichuan Province.

Since 2018, the research team conducted numerous surveys in the upper reaches of the Dadu River. There, they encountered a lizard species that showed unique characteristics not previously observed among known Diploderma species in the region. Through molecular biological analyses and morphological studies, they confirmed that this was indeed a previously unrecognized species and gave it the name Diploderma bifluviale, referencing the location where it was found: the confluence of two rivers, Chuosijia and Jiaomuzu.

A photo of a brown lizard with intricate patterns scurrying over rocky terrain, near green plant shoots.

Diploderma bifluviale is the 47th species of Diplodermain China. The genus Diplodermais distributed across East Asia and the northern part of the Indochinese Peninsula.

With a length of 6-7 cm, D. bifluviale has many distinctive features, such as its wheat-coloured tongue and unique coloration. Unlike its closest relatives, it lives in semi-arid shrublands in warm-dry valleys at elevations of 2,100 to 2,500 m, residing in arid shrublands with small leaves and scattered rock piles.

A camouflaged lizard rests on a rocky, sandy surface.

“This discovery highlights the understudied biodiversity of the upper Dadu River,” the researchers say in their paper, which was published in the open-access journal ZooKeys.

Research article:

Liu F, Wu Y, Zhang J, Yang G, Liu S, Chen X, Chang J, Xie Q, Cai B (2025) A new species of Diploderma Hallowell, 1861 (Squamata, Agamidae) discovered in the upper Dadu River valley of the Hengduan Mountains, Sichuan, China. ZooKeys 1251: 17-38. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1251.153705

Image credit: Bo Cai