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Scientists Make New, Interesting Discoveries

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frog without lungs? A starfish that’s the size of a platter? Those are just a couple of the crazy finds scientists have made in their hunt for new living things. Here’s a peek at some of the weirdest and wackiest animals that scientists around the world have found recently.

Nosing Around

The grey-faced sengi nosed its way into being noticed! Researchers from the California Academy of Science and Italy’s Trento Museum of Natural Science used hidden cameras to photograph wildlife in the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania. When the researchers looked at the photos, they discovered the sengi had a long snout like an elephant’s trunk. The grey-faced sengi may have a big nose, but it has a tiny body. It weighs only about one and a half pounds! It is still a lot bigger than most sengis, however. Scientists are excited about their discovery because it’s the first new sengi discovered in more than 100 years.

Freaky Frog

Biologists from the National University of Singapore were hopping with excitement when they discovered a frog that has no lungs. Instead, the bug-eyed brown frog breathes through its skin. It is the only frog ever found without lungs. “There are about the most ancient and bizarre frogs you can get on the planet,” said scientist David Bickford. . The unusual amphibian can also flatten itself. Bickford says the frog is like a “squished version of Jabba the Hut.”

Deep-Sea Pug

Think About It
Why do scientists look for new species? What can we learn from the discoveries?
Eek! Scientists recently sighted a flat-faced, peach and tan striped fish crawling in Indonesian waters near Ambon Island. The creature is most likely a new species of anglerfish, a fish that uses leg-like fins to crawl on ledges on the ocean floor. Though the fish looks as if it’s made of blown glass, it’s actually soft and silky so it can slip in and out of small crevices in coral reefs.

Here, Pretty Bird!

Catch it if you can! Scientists first caught a glimpse of the Togian white-eye bird in 1996, but it took them until just recently to actually capture one. The discovery of the tiny, yellow-green bird is somewhat bittersweet. The white-eye, found in the Togian Islands of Indonesia, is very rare and is believed by scientists to be endangered. Scientist Pamela Rasmussen of Michigan State University studied the bird. “What this discovery highlights is that in some parts of the world there are still virtually unexplored islands where few [scientists] have worked,” she said in a statement. “The world still holds … surprises for us.”

Big Find

How many different fish are in the sea? That’s what researchers from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand wanted to find out during a 50-day census of marine life in Antarctic waters. Among the finds were super-sized starfish about 2 feet across! They also found a Dumbo octopus in the Ross Sea. The eight-legged creature has a fleshy body with large ear-like fins on its head (hence the name Dumbo!).

  • Check out: The Catalogue of Life – A project that is attempting to create a directory of every living thing

  • Learn more about the Antarctic census

    •
    Earth Day is April 22. How green are you? Test your Earth–smarts with this fun Earth Day crossword!


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