Welcome to freshers - The newly found species of earth
Living organisms on the surface of our earth is uncountable and infinite. Till now, 18 lakh species of living organisms are identified and categorized. Many of them, identified or non-identified have disappeared or listed in endangered species till now. Last year, 200 new species have been found and named. Most of them were found by scientists of International Institute for Species Exploration of Arizona University. In this article, I am introducing a few species having strange characteristics. Hoping you will feel interested going through them. I am providing a brief description only.
Killing fish
Hoping you have heard of killer jelly fish. This particular jelly fish was found at Caribbean island Bonaire. They resemble kites a lot. Though it was officially declared last year, many people have claimed to see it many times before. Many are got bitten also. It's said, if someone see this jelly fish or get its bite, he will say, 'Oh boy' aloud. So, the name suggested by Biology teacher Lisa Peck was given to this killer fish - Bonaire Branded Box Jelly.
Blue spider
Name: Pterinopelma Sazimai Family: Theraphosidae
Sazimas Tarantula is the first organism found from Brazil. Its beauty is its green colour. Its name was given in the memory of Dr.Ivan Sazima, who collected its specimen first. Brazil is the best in biological diversity in this world - the land filled with grass lands and Atlantic forests. This blue spider is mostly found in places having abundant rainfall. But let me say, it's an endangered species.
Walking cactus
Name: Diania Cactiformis Family: Xenusia
It resembles a walking cactus a lot. Though it looks like leaves of a plant, it's an animal. It's included in the endangered category Lobopodia. It has the shape of a worm and has many pair of legs. It's believed that they are the ancestors of today's spiders and insects. Diania Cactiformis was found in Chenchi-yang, south west region of China.
Night blooming orchid
Name: Bulbophyllum Noctumum Family: Orchidaceae
Till now, 25000 species of orchids have been found. This night blooming orchid was found from Papua, New Guinea. It's a small type of strange orchid which opens its eyes at 10pm and sheds in the early morning itself. i.e. Its life span is just 12 hours. Its name is derived from a Latin word meaning 'night'.
Sponge mushroom
Name: Spongiforma Squarepantsii Family: Boletaceae
It belongs to mushroom species and this new guest was found from Borneo forests of Malaysia. Known as Spongebob squarepants mushroom, it has a pleasant fruity aroma and appears like a sponge. It belongs to the second group of spongiforma. Since it resembles cartoon character 'Spongebob square', it's given this name.
Wandering leg sausage
Name: Crurifarcimen Vagans Family: Pachybolidae
This new species was found from Eastern Arc mountain ranges of Tanzania. Since it resembles masala cooked meat, it's given the name 'Wandering leg sausage'. It has 16cm length and 6cm body size. They reside in Usambara mountain ranges in the rotten wastes of trees, in the height of 1000 metres.
Autumn season flower
Name: Meconopsis Autumnalis Family: Papaveraceae
Nepalese autumn poppy blossoms during autumn season only and this beautiful flower was not known to the outer world till last year. Though its specimen were collected earlier itself, since scientists who study plant varieties in Asia were comparatively low in number, it took a few years to be accepted and named. They are seen at 11,000m height from sea levels.
Parasite wasp
Name: Kollasmosma Sentum Family: Braconidea
All of us know about parasites - the organisms that depend on other organisms for food. A wasp was discovered most recently, which depends on ants. It flies in circular motion just 1cm height from ground and lay eggs on ants. Larvae hatched out of eggs make those ants their food. Hence the name given parasite wasp.
Snub-nosed monkeys
Name: Rhinopithecus Strykeri Family: Cercopithcidae
While studies of Gibbon monkeys were going on in the hill ranges of Myanmar this new species of monkeys were found. Its small and flat noses make it distinct from others. With the arrival of rain, these monkeys start sneezing and hence the name snub-nosed monkey. It seems they have rain allergy. So, they hide their heads in between their legs while it's raining. these monkeys having black hair and white beard are also endangered species.
Devils worm
Name: Halicephalobus Mephisto Family: Panagrolaimidae
Devils worm was found 1.5 kms below the gold mines of Africa. It's one among the multi-cellular living organisms living in great depths of earth's surface. These worms have just 0.5ml length and can exist in high temperature and pressure. It's proved through carbon dating that, for the past 5000 years, they have never come into contact with atmosphere. This new finding has made many scientists think about the existence of similar organisms at such high temperatures, both on earth and other planets.
In this article, I have given a brief idea about 10 newly found members of our earth. Yet, i have to conclude, many such species will be discovered in the distant future. But, it's more strange to think that many such living organisms have lived and extinct from earth's surface without leaving a trace or being visible to human eyes, no doubt!
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