New species

A rather uninspiring specimen in the Natural History Museum’s collection has an extraordinary tale to tell.

Baminornis zhenghensis shows early birds already had some of their key characteristics by the Late Jurassic.

Threordatoth chasmatos was one of the last survivors of a once-widespread group of lizard-like animals.

A new species of moth has been discovered 7,000 kilometres from home.

Fossils discovered in northern Australia mark the beginning of a 25-million-year-old family.

Ferganoceratodus edwardsi suggests that many ancient lungfish are more closely related than first thought.

Comptonatus chasei is the newest member of the Iguanodon family.

A new species of 237-million-year-old reptile has been uncovered in Brazil.

The newly described Myloplus sauron highlights how little we know about South America’s biodiversity.

Amalophyllon miraculum reveals that the region’s biodiversity may not have suffered as badly as first feared.

While the researchers describing Buronius manfredschmidi claim it is a new species, not all scientists are convinced.

Musankwa sanyatiensis is just the fourth dinosaur species ever found from Zimbabwe.

Kermitops gratus highlights the number of specimens waiting to be described in the world’s museums.

As many as 100 new species of deep-sea animals may have been discovered living on undersea mountains.

Within the world of dinosaurs Xu Xing is a globally important figure.

Named in honour of two dedicated conservationists, the discovery of the spiders could help to protect at-risk forests on St Helena.

Discovered in Scotland, Ceoptera evansae has been named as a new species of pterosaur. 

Specimens of the hitchhiking insect have been sitting undescribed in the Museum’s collections since 1886.

The species has only been found once on the side of the inactive volcano. 

The new species, named Venetoraptor gassenae, suggests that the lagerpetids were more diverse than previously realised.

The discovery of a new parasitoid wasp could help to save an Endangered Pacific butterfly.

Fossils found in Peru are redefining the history of whale evolution.

A newly described palm species from Borneo has been discovered with the unusual phenomenon of producing its fruit and flowers below ground.

The oldest group of lizards has just gained their newest member.

A new fossil predator has offered an insight into the chaotic final years of the largest extinction of all time over 250 million years ago.

Protathlitis cinctorrensis is the latest to be discovered in Spain, adding to the evidence that spinosaurs first evolved in Europe.

While there are currently only two members of the genus Saurona, many more as-yet-undescribed species are thought to exist.

52-million-year-old fossils of Icaronycteris gunnelli offer researchers a deeper look at how bats evolved.

Kumimanu fordycei weighed an estimated 150 kilogrammes, demonstrating that penguins became large early in their evolution.

The race is on to learn more about these fragile forests as human impacts threaten their survival.

The ancient flying reptile would have used its toothed snout with a flared end to filter-feed.

Though it may have gone extinct over 600 years ago, understanding more about Astrochelys rogerbouri could help to save its living relatives. 

A new species of extinct lizard has been described from the Museum's collections. 

Measuring almost four metres in length, Leviathanochelys aenigmatica reveals that giant turtles were more common than previously thought.

A fossil from China has filled in a major gap in the evolutionary tree for life on Earth.

The description of an extinct lizard-like animal may help reveal why its kind were rapidly pushed to the edge of extinction.

The tropical arachnids have been named after the musician to draw attention to the threats they face. 

While the evolutionary history of the bears remains uncertain, it contributes evidence to suggestions that panda bears could have evolved in Europe. 

The 560-million-year-old specimen of Auroralumina attenboroughii reveals that the origins of complex life may date back further than was previously known. 

Over 30 potential new species, from starfish to sea cucumbers, have been discovered living at the bottom of the sea.

The tiny arms of Tyrannosaurus rex may bring ridicule, but a new dinosaur reveals they were part of a much larger trend.

The world's largest waterlily has been discovered in the wetlands of northern Bolivia.

Nepenthes pudica is changing what we know about carnivorous species, but may already be Critically Endangered.

Measuring over a centimetre long, Thiomargarita magnifica is over 5000 times bigger than the average microbe. 

The largest meat-eating dinosaur ever found in Europe.

Some of the species, described for the first time, are smaller than a 1p coin.

It adds to the understanding of how these curious dinosaurs evolved and spread around the world.

Living over 40 million years before the sabre-tooth tiger, Diegoaelurus vanvalkenburghae may have preyed on rhinos and primates in the forests of California. 

There is currently not enough evidence to prove they are a genuine new species, or just a distinct population of an existing one. 

Bashanosaurus primitivus adds to evidence the group of dinosaurs may have originated in Asia.

Scientists believe there could be many as yet unknown fossils to be uncovered in the region.

A new species of crocodile-like animal has been described from fossils unearthed in Tanzania. 

A newly described species of tree has received international attention after being named in honour of actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

A newly discovered millipede has claimed the title of the 'leggiest' animal in the world.

The largest-ever flying animal acted like a giant heron, plucking prey from the water and launching itself into the air. 

The oldest-known meat-eating dinosaur discovered in the UK has been named in honour of trailblazing Museum scientist Angela Milner, who passed away in August 2021.

The moth is famous for its enormous tongue - the longest of any insect.

Spicomellus afer is the oldest ankylosaur ever discovered. 

The Popa langur lives on an extinct volcano in Myanmar.

The extinction risk to plants could be worse than previously thought, according to a landmark report.

New species of the deep ocean floor are helping change how we think. 

Ecologist Sylvia Myers introduces some of our favourite finds and how we monitor the plants and animals present.

A new species of stegosaurian dinosaur, Adratiklit boulahfa, has been described.

The new amoeba species is the earliest of its kind ever discovered.

They include new dinosaurs, an ancient wombat and a giant shark.

The fish burrows underground and breaths through the lining of its mouth. 

Researchers have discovered several new animal species living on the Pacific seafloor.

The sponges live on the ocean floor on metal-rich nodules, which are targeted by deep-sea mining companies.