A mysterious bone in a box and three more new species just discovered in the US
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Unique creatures, odd animals and new species are being discovered across the planet. Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses.
Take a look at some newly discovered species from the United States:
Bone in ‘mystery’ box at FL museum stumped scientists. It belongs to new species
An unidentified bone from a Georgia mine, stored for decades, has been identified as a new species of tegu lizard, named Wautaugategu formidus. This ancient lizard, discovered in a fossil pit near the Florida-Georgia line, is believed to have arrived in North America millions of years before modern-day tegus. The fossil was found in Gragg Mine, just north of the Florida-Georgia line. | Published May 12 | Read More |
Grad student discovers clawed creature tangled near WA lake. It’s a new species
A graduate student discovered a new species of crayfish, Pacifastacus okanaganensis, tangled in fishing line at a lake in Washington. Known as the Okanagan crayfish, this species is found in north-central Washington and south-central British Columbia, Canada. | Published May 15 | Read More |
Apex predator with gold scales caught in river in Georgia. It’s a new species
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In the rivers along the Georgia-South Carolina border, scientists discovered a new species of black bass, named Micropterus pucpuggy or Bartram’s bass. This fish, with its striking gold scales and red eyes, was found in the Savannah and Santee River basins. | Published Aug. 20 | Read More |
‘Robust’ red-eyed predator caught in Georgia river turns out to be new species
A new species of black bass, the Altamaha bass or Micropterus calliurus, was discovered in the Altamaha and Ogeechee rivers in central Georgia. This “robust” predator with red eyes and gold scales was identified through DNA analysis. | Published Aug. 21 | Read More |