Top 10 New Species Of 2014

SUNY-ESF International Institute for Species Exploration (IISE) designated the top 10 species for this year, discovered last year. They didn't rank the species, but we did!

10. Dracaena kaweesakii (Kaweesak's dragon tree)

This mystical-looking tree grows on limestone in parts of northern Thailand and Myanmar. The Dracaena kaweesakii, a.k.a Kaweesak's dragon tree, has soft, slender leaves and cream-colored flowers with orange filaments. It stands 40 feet and is rare enough to be given preliminary endangered conservation status.

9. Liropus minusculus (skeleton shrimp)

The Liropus minusculus, or rather "skeleton shrimp," is found in a cave on Santa Catalina, off the coast of southern California. Famous for an eerie, translucent body, this shrimp is far removed from its ‘cocktail’ counterpart. It's also the first and smallest of its genus to be reported in the northeastern Pacific Ocean.

8. Edwardsiella andrillae (ANDRILL anemone)

How did this sea anemone survive under an Antarctic glacier? Geologists discovered thousands of the Edwardsiella andrillae, nicknamed the ANDRILL anemone, beneath the Ross Ice Shelf. It’s the first species of anemone known to live in ice, and each keeps roughly a dozen tentacles submerged in frigid water.

7. Penicillium vanoranjei (Orange penicillium)

Check out this fun guy: an orange-colored fungi. The Penicillium vanoranjei, a.k.a orange penicillium, is found in Tunisia, isolated from soil. Scientists believe the fungi's extracellular matrix may protect it from drought. But we can’t help but stare at its bright orange colonies.

6. Spiculosiphon oceana (Amoeboid protist)

The Spiculosiphon oceana, a.k.a amoeboid protist, is an one-celled organism, but fairly large for its kind — around two inches high. It is found on the Seco de Palos seamount, off the southeast coast of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea. This new species looks more like a sponge than a protozoon, but that's because its shell is made of spicules, skeletal pieces of dead sponge.

5. Zospeum tholussum (Domed land snail)

Who needs eyes when you live in the dark? The Zospeum tholussum, a.k.a. domed land snail, lurks in caves nearly a half-mile under the Velebit mountains of western Croatia. This air-breathing land snail is small, translucent and very slow. It may travel in water currents or catch rides with other cave dwellers, like bats or crickets.

4. Tersicoccus phoenicis (Clean room microbe)

Keep this new species needs far away from future Mars colonies! The Tersicoccus phoenicis, a.k.a. "clean room microbe," was discovered where spacecraft are built. Scientists collected this microbial species from two clean rooms, 2,500 miles apart, in Florida and French Guiana. This microbe is resistant to frequent sterilization — which could mean it’s not disappearing anytime soon.

3. Saltuarius eximius (Leaf-tailed gecko)

Look closely and you'll see the Saltuarius eximius, a.k.a. leaf-tailed gecko, who lives on vertical surfaces of rocks and trees in northern Australia’s Melville Range. This lizard's camouflaged scales, large eyes and dinosaur-like resemblance gives it a haunting appearance. It hides in the day and hunts at night, like a true party animal.

2. Tinkerbella nana (Tinkerbell fairyfly)

This might not be what comes to mind when you hear, “Tinkerbell fairyfly,” but that really is its name! The Tinkerbella nana is one of Earth’s smallest insects, measuring at just 250 micrometers (0.00984 inches). This teeny-tiny wasp inhabits a lowland tropical rain forest in northeastern Costa Rica. Scientists believe it lives no more than a few days, eating on eggs of other insects. No word yet on whether those fringed wings can excrete pixie dust.

1. Bassaricyon neblina (Olinguito)

Raccoon meets teddy bear? The Bassaricyon neblina, a.k.a the olinguito, lives high in the Andean cloud forest in Colombia and Ecuador. It's the first new carnivorous mammal discovered in the Western Hemisphere in 35 years — but really, the olinguito mostly eats figs and will snack on insects. Not much food is necessary for an animal that tops out at around 4.5 pounds!