New Animal Species Discovered In The 21st Century

Earth is a vast planet. Over the years, we have discovered many animal species. However, nature is still full of surprises. Every year new species are being discovered. If you wish to learn more about them, you’re in the right place. Here are ten animal species that have been found in the 21st century.
  1. Kipunji Monkey
The Kipunji Monkey was discovered in 2003. Before that, the last monkey species that was found was in 1923. What sets apart these monkeys from others is their sound. They have a different calling than other relatives that makes them easily identifiable.
  • Macroscelides Micus
The Macroscelides Micus is a species of Elephant Shrews that was found in 2006. It is the smallest one of its family and lives in a specific part of Namibia. While the discovery was made in 2006, it wasn’t until 2014 that the species got its name.
  • Sunda Clouded Leopard
Discovered in 2006, the Sunda Clouded Leopard is recognized as a separate species. Members were found on two different Indonesian islands and weighed up to 26 kgs. What sets apart these leopards is that their tails can be as long as their body. Besides that, their spots create a cloudy effect which is how the species got its name.
  • Kiwa Hirsuta
Kiwa Hirsuta is a species of yeti crab that was discovered in 2006. The animal is completely white and its eyes are not visible. Besides, they live deep in hydrothermal vents. In 2011, another species of yeti crab was also discovered by the same researchers. The only difference between them is that Kiwa Hirsuta has more hair.
  • Louisiana Pancake Batfish
The Louisiana Pancake Batfish was discovered in 2010 and is native to the Gulf of Mexico. The members of the species are small and can fit within your palm easily. What’s so unique about this fish is that it uses its fins to walk on the ocean bed.
  • Kuttal Caecilian
Kuttal Caecilian is a species that belongs to a family of limbless amphibians. It is native to India and was discovered in 2012. The members of the species are amphibians but resemble worms. Their homes are underground, that is why it is hard to find them.
  • Euglossa Bazinga
The E. bazinga is a species of orchid bees that were found in 2012. The name was inspired by the tv show Big Bang Theory. The bees have a green exterior and were discovered in Brazil.
  • Olinguito
Olinguito was discovered in 2013, and researchers described it as a mix of a teddy bear and a cat. However, it belongs to the family of raccoons. Surprisingly, it is the first carnivore that has been found in the Western Hemisphere in 35 years.
  • Chimaera Carophila
Discovered in 2014, the Chimaera Carophila is a species of ghost shark. It was found in New Zealand and lived 1000 meters deep in the sea. Currently, it’s the third species of Chimaera in the country and 16th in the world.
  1. V. Wherleyi
The V. wherleyi is a species of praying mantis. What’s so unique about its members is that they mimic wasps to avoid predators. It was discovered in 2019 in Peru. Final Words Those were the ten new animal species discovered in the 21st century. Besides them, many other species have also been found. Not only that, but by the end of the century, we will have thousands of more discoveries.