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These 9 creatures were recently discovered as new species across the world. See them

Stories by Real-Time News journalists, with AI summarization

Recent discoveries of new creatures have expanded our understanding of global biodiversity. From the record-breaking Hercules spider found in Australian grasslands, to the peculiarly adorned Garvale jumping spider from India, each new species brings unique adaptations and behaviors.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

The Australian Reptile Park collected its largest male funnel-web spider, experts said on Facebook.

NO. 1: ‘GIANT’ VENOMOUS SPIDER DISCOVERED IN AUSTRALIA. SEE THE ‘ABSOLUTELY HUGE’ MONSTER

One expert said the spider, named Hercules, has “some of the biggest fangs” she’s ever seen. | Published January 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Moira Ritter

Researchers in the Democratic Republic of Congo discovered three new species of jumping spiders, according to a new study.

NO. 2: JUMPING CREATURE SPINS ‘SHEETS OF WEB’ AND TUCKS SELF IN AT NIGHT. IT’S A NEW SPECIES

Researchers found the six-eyed creatures in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a new study. | Published January 17, 2024 | Read Full Story by Moira Ritter

Scientists found a clawed animal with “sucker-like” genitalia lurking in a cave in Brazil and discovered a new species, a study said.

NO. 3: CLAWED CREATURE WITH ‘SUCKER-LIKE’ GENITALIA FOUND LURKING IN CAVE. IT’S A NEW SPECIES

Researchers discovered the cave-dwelling animal in Brazil. | Published January 17, 2024 | Read Full Story by Aspen Pflughoeft

Researchers rediscovered a species of weevil thought extinct and found a new species of weevil in the Philippines, according to the University of Alberta.

NO. 4: ‘LARGE’ METALLIC CREATURE — THOUGHT EXTINCT FOR 100 YEARS — REDISCOVERED ON ISLAND

“It’s almost like discovering a dodo bird,” researchers said after finding the animal in the Philippines. | Published February 2, 2024 | Read Full Story by Moira Ritter

Scientists found a “peculiar” eight-legged animal hiding at a resort in Karnataka and discovered a new species, a study said.

NO. 5: ‘PECULIAR’ 8-LEGGED CREATURE FOUND HIDING AT RESORT IN INDIA. IT’S A NEW SPECIES

The brown animal was “clothed with fine pale hairs,” researchers said. | Published May 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Aspen Pflughoeft

In the northern mountainous region of Thailand, a new species stays hidden in the green until it opens its wings.

NO. 6: MOUNTAIN CREATURE — WITH ‘PALE BLUE’ WINGS — FOUND IN THAILAND. SEE THE NEW SPECIES

The new species was named after the discoverer’s mentor, he said. | Published June 7, 2024 | Read Full Story by Irene Wright

In the fens of eastern England, a species unobserved for 86 years has just been rediscovered.

NO. 7: MAN SEARCHING FOR NEWTS IN UK CATCHES SOMETHING IN TRAP. IT WAS A LONG-LOST SPECIES

The “silver” creature hasn’t been seen in the area since 1938, a researcher said. | Published July 19, 2024 | Read Full Story by Irene Wright

In the mountains of Vietnam, two creatures are indistinguishable from the entangled forest branches.

NO. 8: CAMOUFLAGED CREATURES — WITH ‘MUSHROOM-LIKE’ EGGS — FOUND AS NEW SPECIES IN VIETNAM

The nocturnal animals were found in the forests of the Annamite Mountains. | Published October 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Irene Wright

Scientists in Australia found an “assassin”-like creature covered in plant resin and discovered a new species, a study said.

NO. 9: ‘ASSASSIN’-LIKE CREATURE SEEN COVERING ITSELF IN STICKY RESIN. IT’S A NEW SPECIES

Photos show the “shiny” animal discovered on plants in Australia. | Published October 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Aspen Pflughoeft

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.