In the year 2024, scientists made remarkable strides in cataloging the biodiversity of our planet, revealing an astounding array of previously unidentified species. This rich tapestry of life includes a toothy toadstool, a vegetarian piranha marked distinctly, and a pygmy pipehorse that gracefully inhabits the shallow waters of the Indian Ocean. These discoveries showcase just a glimpse of the hundreds of new animal, plant, and fungal species that were named and described this year, further emphasizing the surprisingly limited understanding we have of Earth’s biological diversity.
According to Dr. Shannon Bennett, the chief of science at the California Academy of Sciences, these findings underline a pressing reality: “Scientists estimate that we’ve identified only one-tenth of all species on Earth.” This stark statistic highlights a need for conservation efforts not only for the species we know are endangered but also for those yet to be discovered that could play a critical role in maintaining ecosystem balance. Dr. Bennett is adamant that the resources must be allocated for identifying new species alongside conserving known threatened populations.
In 2024, researchers associated with the California Academy of Sciences identified 138 new species, notably including 32 fish. Among the standout mentions was the pygmy pipehorse, designated as Cylix nkosi. Originally observed in 2021 in the temperate waters near New Zealand’s North Island, this intriguing species’ range was broadened to include the coastal waters of South Africa. Underwater photographer and marine biologist Richard Smith remarked on the challenging conditions encountered in South African diving spots, indicating that they had only one chance to locate this cryptic creature. Miraculously, they spotted a female camouflaged against sponges on the sandy ocean floor.
The unique choice of the name “nkosi” reflects a connection to the local Zulu language, translating to “chief,” and referring to the distinctive crown-like shape of its head while honoring the KwaZulu-Natal region where it was discovered. In another notable achievement, the Natural History Museum in London reported its involvement in 190 new discoveries of both living and fossil animals, which included a varied roster of creatures such as moths, crabs, rats, and snakes.
Among these discoveries, one particularly fascinating moth species from Madagascar, named from a genus called Hemiceratoides, was noted for its unusual feeding habits of drinking bird tears, while a different one, Carmenta brachyclado, was serendipitously found fluttering in a Welsh living room after being unknowingly transported from Guyana by a photographer. Recognizing the mystery species, ecologist Daisy Cadet reached out to the Natural History Museum for identification.
Another striking new entry was the vegetarian piranha, labeled Myloplus sauron, sourced from Brazil’s Xingu River. Senior fish curator Rupert Collins explained that the species’ name draws from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” reflecting its eye-like disc shape. “The reason we named it this was really a no-brainer,” Collins remarked, as the fish’s appearance mirrors the Eye of Sauron.
In addition to these notable fish, 2024’s scientific cataloging included a mysterious mollusk from deep ocean waters, a ghost shark, a peculiar blob-headed fish, and a semi-aquatic mouse. Researchers from the UK’s Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew also made fascinating discoveries, including a new type of fungi with tooth-like structures—the Phellodon castaneoleucus—from wooded heathland near Royal Tunbridge Wells.
Moreover, botanists documented the discovery of five new orchid species throughout the Indonesian archipelago, a unique gray-stemmed ghost palm from western Borneo, and Afrothismia, a plant family confined to African forests, incapable of photosynthesizing. Overall, scientists linked to Kew described a total of 149 new plant species and 23 new fungal species.
Unfortunately, many of these discoveries come with a bittersweet note. Martin Cheek, a research leader at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew expressed the thrill associated with identifying new species, but he underscored the urgency surrounding their conservation: “The devastating reality is that more often than not, new species are being found on the brink of extinction, and it’s a race against time to find and describe them all.” This emphasizes the need for increased attention not just on discovery, but also on conservation to protect the rich diversity of life that still awaits documentation.