Where ever we go, we are always on the lookout for new animal friends. This year new critters have emerged to be noticed, check out the new Animal Drop: Best New Animals of 2022!
The Principe scops-owl (Otus bikegila) of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
This distinctive new owl species joins the scops owl genus and is known for its short “tuu” call. The call is rapidly repeated and has been compared to the call of insects. We love a chatty owl and The Principe’s beautiful big eyes are captivating, hopefully, the owls get Zoom so they can join us on The Blunt Letters Podcast.
It could happen.
Sponge crab (Lamarckdromia beagle), Western Australia
Now you may be thinking, this is a very stylish crab, and you’d be half right because that is a stylish crab and sea sponge acting as a beret. That’s right, this arthropod’s accessory is a living sea sponge, usually one that gives off toxins creating a barrier of protection for this fuzzy crab! Sponges and sometimes sea squirts are held in place by tiny pincers on the back legs of the crab. Enchanté monsieur crab!
Snake (Phalotris shawnella), Paraguay
This scaly friend, the Phalotris shawnella, loves long slithers near the beaches of Rancho Laguna Blanca in Paraguay. This snake was discovered by chance by the conservation organization Para La Tiera and is one of only 3 known individuals. This makes them super rare and critically endangered! This snake’s bright yellow neck coloring is sending a message: if you love it then you gotta put a ring on it, don’t let this snake disappear!
Tapir frog (Synapturanus danta), the Putumayo Basin, Peru
Does this frog look familiar? While they may look like the enchanted chocolate frogs from Harry Potter, they’re actually the Tapir frog from Peru. These frogs are known locally as the Rana Danta (the word for Tapir) and are very difficult to find because they are a burrowing species. They dig for the dirt!
Tarantula (Taksinus bambus), Thailand
This is the most famous creature of 2022, it was discovered by YouTuber JoCho Sippawat (also known as Zongtum Sippawat), who has over 2.5 million subscribers. Sippawat then went on to collaborate with arachnologists Dr. Narin Chomphuphuang and Chaowalit Songsangchote to describe and name the species. This particular spider only lives within the hollow part of the bamboo shoot known as the “culm” in areas of Thailand with an elevation of 1000 meters, so arachnophobes, consider yourselves warned.
Leafhopper (Phlogis kibalensis), in Kibale National Park, Uganda
This little leafhopper is shrouded in mystery as almost nothing is known about its life. As a member of the order of the “true-bugs” or Hemiptera comprising over 80,000 species. This leafhoppers’ red eyes make us think they’re more interested in true blood, a show that Elle did not watch.
Millipede (Nannaria swiftae), USA
Finally, we bring you USA’s very own Millipede (Nannaria swiftae), so named after the pop singer Taylor Swift. They live in the Appalachian mountains and are one of 17 new species discovered in this area since 2015! The millipede males have specialized legs for sex, although we’re not sure how many or what positions it uses.
References:
https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/new-species-discovered-this-year/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemiptera#Feeding_modes
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