{"id":399,"date":"2026-06-12T12:10:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T12:10:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shahed.org\/news\/?p=399"},"modified":"2026-06-12T12:35:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T12:35:56","slug":"new-species","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shahed.org\/news\/2026\/06\/12\/new-species\/","title":{"rendered":"New species"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Fluorescent spider and armored cricket among incredible discoveries in Angola<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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Nine photos: Incredible species discovered in Angola<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
9 photos<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A species of crowned crab spider fluoresces under ultraviolet light, for reasons still unclear to scientists. It is one of dozens of species thought to be unknown to science recently documented in the remote Angolan highlands in a survey by The Wilderness Project.\u00a0Scroll through to see more new and incredible species photographed.<\/em><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Nicky Bay\/The Wilderness Project<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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EDITOR\u2019S NOTE:<\/span>\u00a0 Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions.\u00a0Rolex\u2019s Perpetual Planet Initiative<\/a>\u00a0has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire positive action.<\/p>\n

Amid collapsing global biodiversity, there\u2019s a great irony: We\u2019re discovering new species faster than ever before.<\/p>\n

An expedition to eastern Angola announced Wednesday it had found dozens of species potentially unknown to science in a location described by organizers as \u201cone of Africa\u2019s last great biodiversity blank spots.\u201d<\/p>\n

The remote Lisima plateau in Angola\u2019s highlands is a vast and vital landscape feeding the headwaters of the Congo, Okavango, Zambezi and Cuanza river systems. But its swamps and wetlands, grasslands and woodlands have been largely under-documented by science. Near-impenetrable geography and a ruinous 27-year civil war that ended in 2002 have stymied access. However, the area has begun yielding its secrets.<\/p>\n

In 2024, an expedition led by South African explorer Steve Boyes successfully caught on camera a fabled\u00a0\u201cghost elephant,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0a genetically and physiologically distinct strand of giant elephant, cut off from other populations and adapted to the environment.<\/p>\n

The newest survey, called the Cassai Life Atlas, was conducted in February by The Wilderness Project (founded by Boyes). It supports previous surveys conducted by the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project.<\/p>\n

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A giant conehead mantis, photographed during the survey in Angola. The species lives in grassland, predominantly in southern Africa, and is a master of diguise.<\/span><\/div>\n

Nicky Bay\/The Wilderness Project<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A team of 16 African and international specialists captured what The Wilderness Project describes as the most detailed picture yet of the plateau. More new species are likely to be identified as taxonomists begin the process of formally describing them.<\/p>\n

Among the most alluring potentially new species is a crowned crab spider that glows blue under ultraviolet light \u2014 for reasons still unclear to scientists.<\/p>\n

Another is a ladybird orb-web spider, which mimics the appearance of the toxic ladybird beetle, protecting it from predators.<\/p>\n

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This spectacular pit viper is among the new species that were discovered in Cambodia\u2019s karsts \u2013 ancient limestone cliffs with hidden cave systems. While its official name has not been decided, the \u201cpit\u201d refers to the heat-sensitive organ on its head, which it uses to detect and track down warm-blooded prey.<\/span><\/div>\n

Phyroum Chourn\/Fauna & Flora<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Pit viper, flying snake and geckos among new species uncovered in Cambodian caves<\/span><\/p>\n

4 min read<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n

Among the 103 dragonfly and damselfly species recorded by the expedition, eight are undescribed by science, along with eight new moths.<\/p>\n

Three previously undescribed grasshopper, katydid and cricket species were recorded, and The Wilderness Project says more could follow once specialists can assess the specimens.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t just the new that was notable. Extraordinary species already known to science found at Lisima included: the camouflaged gaboon adder, owner of the longest fangs of any venomous snake at up to 5cm (2 inches); the flightless bat fly, a parasite that lives on bats, \u201cswimming\u201d through their fur and drinking their blood; and the many-plumed moth, which instead of having a solid membrane for wings, has wings comprising feather-like plumes.<\/p>\n

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A spiny leaf beetle documented in Angola.<\/span><\/div>\n

Nicky Bay\/The Wilderness Project<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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A flightless bat fly, a parasite that lives on bats and drinks their blood.<\/span><\/div>\n

Piotr Naskrecki\/The Wilderness Project<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Expedition leader Rob Taylor described the fieldwork as a \u201cprivilege and a thrill\u201d in a statement accompanying the news.<\/p>\n

In an email to CNN, Taylor said the biggest challenge was working at the peak of the rainy season \u2014 a change from previous surveys.<\/p>\n

\u201cLogistically, it was extremely difficult,\u201d he said. \u201cMore than once our convoy was stuck in mud for an entire day. We also dealt with starter-motor problems, alternator failures, worn brake pads and several cases of malaria in the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe scientists were not too fazed by the delays \u2014 whenever we were stuck, they used the opportunity to survey nearby dambos (seasonally waterlogged grassland), swamp forests and wetlands.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A gaboon adder, holder of the longest fangs of any venomous snake at up to two inches.<\/span><\/div>\n

Nicky Bay\/The Wilderness Project<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

It could take months, if not years, to publish all the findings from the survey, he said.<\/p>\n

The immediate question is how best to protect species \u2014 new and old \u2014 on the plateau.<\/p>\n

The expedition leader said the most vulnerable species are likely those with \u201cvery restricted ranges or very specific habitat requirements.\u201d He explained that dragonflies, for example, are vulnerable to changes in freshwater quality, which can be affected by mining, and certain butterflies require specific host plants that could be lost to fire, clearing or slash-and-burn agriculture.<\/p>\n

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The first photo of a ghost elephant captured by a motion controlled camera. The eyes glow in this night shot. (Credit: Courtesy of The Wilderness Project Archive)<\/span><\/div>\n

The Wilderness Project Archive<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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For decades there were rumors of ghost elephants in Angola. This explorer found them<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n

The remoteness of the plateau and factors deterring visitors \u2014 including leftover mines from the civil war \u2014 have helped protect Lisima\u2019s natural resources from exploitation in recent decades.<\/p>\n

Formalizing protection for the plateau in the decades ahead is a priority for The Wilderness Project, which alongside collaborators successfully pushed for 5.4 million hectares (13.3 million acres) of the plateau to be recognized in 2025.<\/p>\n

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Last October, wetland conservation organization Ramsar named the area, called Lisima Lya Mwono (\u201cthe Source of Life\u201d), a wetland of international importance, and cited its groundwater\u2019s role in supporting 110,000 square kilometers (42,500 square miles) of surrounding ecosystem.<\/p>\n

\u201cLonger term, we hope the findings (of the survey) support stronger protection for the plateau \u2014 not only in terms of formal conservation status, but also in practical land-use decisions on the ground,\u201d said Taylor.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal is not simply to document new species, but to ensure the habitats they depend on remain intact.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Fluorescent spider and armored cricket among incredible discoveries in Angola Nine photos: Incredible species discovered in Angola 9 photos A species of crowned crab spider fluoresces under ultraviolet light, for…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16,5,15],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shahed.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/399"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shahed.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shahed.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shahed.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shahed.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=399"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/shahed.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/399\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":403,"href":"https:\/\/shahed.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/399\/revisions\/403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shahed.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shahed.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shahed.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}