The discovery of ancient clades of brittle stars at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean adds to concerns that commercial exploitation of the area could destroy numerous taxa before they’ve even been identified.

Researchers identify a new species of Hemimastigophora protist, and suggest the group should be promoted from a phylum to a supra-kingdom.

A newly described amphibian has such a small range in southern Brazil that it’s already critically endangered.

A new species of swamp eel has been discovered in India.

Researchers have recently identified a many-legged invertebrate from the Silurian period.

A newly described parasitic wasp is named after Daenerys Targaryen from the book series A Song of Ice and Fire and TV show Game of Thrones.

Five newly identified species of snakes suck the mollusks right out of their shells.  

A newly described species of shrimp, Odontonia bagginsi, has been named after Bilbo Baggins. 

Austrian-American botanist Joseph Rock collected thousands of plant samples in his 27 years in the Middle Kingdom, leaving after the Communist Party’s takeover.