All articles tagged with #taxonomy
A newly studied Jurassic shark Bavariscyllium, about 25 cm long, reveals diverse early shark forms with a whisker-like sensory organ and traits that don’t fit neatly into current shark orders, prompting scientists to rethink how sharks evolved and how fossil teeth influence age estimates.
Austria’s Dr. Peter Huemer used DNA barcoding and genitalia dissection to reveal Carcina ingridmariae as a new cryptic species, distinct from Carcina quercana by 6.5% in a 658-base-pair COI gene; described in Alpine Entomology (Aug 2025) and named in honor of his wife Ingrid Maria, the moth spans the eastern Mediterranean (Cyprus, Croatia, Greece, Turkey) and was identified from about 100 specimens, illustrating how cryptic species can hide in plain sight.
Researchers report thousands of circular, non-coding RNA structures, dubbed obelisks, found across human saliva and gut microbiomes. They behave like replicators but do not resemble viruses, plasmids, or other known genetic elements, lacking protein-coding capacity and a protective shell. Their replication mechanism remains unknown, and they defy existing biological classifications, suggesting a possible new life-like class within the microbiome. There is no evidence of harm to humans yet, but their ubiquity hints at ecological or evolutionary significance and a need for new taxonomic frameworks.
A new study of 400-million-year-old Prototaxites fossils reveals a 26-foot-tall, spire-like organism that doesn’t fit any known kingdom (not a plant, fungus, or alga), suggesting a completely new form of life with mysterious biology and energy systems, and scientists say finding similar fossils is needed to place it on the tree of life.
A peer‑reviewed study analyzing growth rings in 17 T. rex leg bones shows full adult size was reached around ages 35–40, with rapid growth from 14 to 29 and extended growth for at least a decade afterward, implying a longer subadult phase and prompting renewed questions about species boundaries within fossils labeled T. rex.
The article explains the difference between hominids and hominins, clarifying that hominids include all great apes and their ancestors, while hominins specifically refer to the human lineage after diverging from chimpanzees, reflecting updated scientific classifications.
The article explains the importance of accurately distinguishing closely related animal species, such as hares vs. rabbits, bison vs. buffalo, dolphins vs. porpoises, and crows vs. ravens, highlighting their physical and behavioral differences that reflect their unique evolutionary paths and ecological niches.
A new species of dwarf deer, Pudella carlae, has been discovered in Peru, making it the first living cervid species described in the 21st century and the first from the New World in over six decades. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the taxonomy and systematics of Neotropical deer, particularly the genus Pudu. The researchers also identified that Pudu mephistophiles is actually two distinct species, with the newly described Pudella carlae being a Peruvian endemic. This discovery sheds light on the complexity of deer evolution and highlights the need for further research in this area.
The white dots on strawberries are not seeds but rather achenes, which are the plant's fruit containing a single seed each. Despite their misleading appearance, strawberries are not berries but rather aggregate fruits, similar to raspberries and blackberries, and belong to the same family as roses. Their unusual life cycle and propagation through runners further distinguish them from true berries, placing them in the aggregate fruit category.
Australia has added 48 new species of ground-hunting spiders to its already diverse collection of arachnids. The taxonomic project, led by Dr. Robert Raven, took decades to formally categorize and describe the spiders from the family Miturgidae. The new species, found in dry habitats across Australia, are nocturnal and fast-moving, with body lengths of up to 10 millimeters. They do not spin webs but instead hunt for prey on the ground. The spiders have been named to honor notable figures in the arachnid community, and their discovery highlights the ongoing secrets of biodiversity in the natural world.
Scientists are debating whether to change the names of species that have offensive or objectionable associations. The recent focus has been on the Anophthalmus hitleri, a blind cave beetle named after Adolf Hitler. Some scientists argue that changing the name would protect the beetle from illegal collection driven by its infamous title. However, others defend the current naming system, stating that retroactive changes based on personal sentiment would disrupt the stability of scientific communication. The debate raises broader questions about the use of offensive names in taxonomy and the need for a more responsive approach to naming species.
The evolution of crabs has resulted in the development and loss of crab-like features at least five times in the past 250 million years, a phenomenon known as carcinization. The reasons for this repeated evolution of the crab-like body plan remain a mystery, but studying crabs provides an opportunity to understand convergent evolution and predict the shapes that evolution might make based on environmental factors and genetic cues. Taxonomists are steadily piecing together what makes a crab, a crab, and resolving the multiple origins and losses of crab body forms through time.
The naming of species is a complex process that involves scientific, cultural, and political factors. Some species have been named after controversial figures, such as the Hitler beetle and the Taylor Swift millipede, leading to debates about the appropriateness of such names. The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature provides guidelines for naming species, but there is still room for interpretation and debate. Ultimately, the naming of species reflects our values and priorities as a society, and can have implications for conservation and biodiversity.
The Tully monster, a 300-million-year-old creature discovered in Illinois, has been a mystery since its discovery. Scientists have tried to classify it as a worm, a lobster, a slug, or a fish, and have flip-flopped between calling it a vertebrate or an invertebrate. Recent papers have suggested it was a vertebrate due to microscopic pigments in its eyes and the presence of a notochord, but a new paper argues it was an invertebrate due to segmentation in its head region. The pursuit of the Tully monster's true role in the story of life on Earth continues.