Suhani Modha

Species Discovered in 2023

2023 was a year abundant with new technological, environmental, and scientific advancements. Specifically, there has been significant progress on finding and naming new species from all corners of the globe. From the Pacific Ocean to mountain ranges, animals and plants previously unknown have been discovered by hard-working scientists.

An example of an organism that has recently been identified is the Lady Elliot goby. This fish’s habitat is in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, especially around the Lady Elliot Island (hence the name). Additionally, these gobies have a symbiotic relationship with a local species of shrimp, working together to escape predators. Though there is currently not much concern about the Lady Elliot goby being at risk of extinction, scientists are working to officially indicate their status in the wild later this year.

A type of sea cucumber known as the Psychropotes longicauda, better known as the “gummy squirrel”, has also been found in 2023 near the Americas. This animal earned this unique nickname due to the elasticity and jelly-like characteristics of its skin. This animal was found in the deep abyss of water near Mexico and Hawaii, just one of the many mysterious and distinctive deep-sea creatures uncovered in the past year.

Species discovery in 2023 was not just limited to animals. In fact, many different plants have also been found by researchers. The Stenostephanus purpureus was identified in Costa Rica. Scientists previously believed that this flowering plant was the same exact species as another plant in Mexico. However, researchers found that these two species are actually completely different, having varied colors, petals, and even pollinators.

The new identification of a variety of species is crucial in a global and scientific understanding of our world at large. Though humans have only found a fraction of the estimated total number of species, the remarkable progress in this field in 2023 should not go unnoticed.