And there are many more left to discover.
In a time when extinction regularly makes headlines, it might seem paradoxical that scientists are still documenting new species.
From the depths of the ocean to the densest forests on Earth, undiscovered creatures are hiding right under our noses.
This frog’s name might ring a bell since it’s named after actor Seth MacFarlane.
Native to the Amazon rainforest, researchers documented the frog in September in the journal Zoological Science. They note that it is most likely a threatened species.
Konrad Mebert
This newly identified deep-sea anemone lives in close quarters with the hermit crab Pagurodofleinia doederleini — literally making a home on top of its shell.
Though reports of this owl’s existence date back decades, it wasn’t until this year that it was documented in a study.
Marco Correia
O. bikegila is also known as the Principe Scops-Owl and is native to Príncipe Island.
This striking fish was previously thought to be the adult version of another species.
Even though it looks similar to other rainbow swimmers in the Maldives, a closer analysis revealed that it's actually in a class of its own.
Sofia Sheikh
O. labotus actually represents 16 to 18 different species.
It’s a perfect example of a cryptic species or one that boasts more diversity than meets the eye.
Gayle Laird © California Academy of Sciences
They were identified in a report this year with major contributions from two high school students.
While exploring the depths of the Atacama Trench beneath the Pacific Ocean, researchers were surprised by this unfamiliar snailfish.
The shimmering colors on this Paraguayan snake might seem like a warning, but P. shawnella is actually non-venomous.