TORONTO -- The secrets of the Earth are still being uncovered, with one group of scientists finding dozens of brand new species this year.
The California Academy of Sciences has that scientists discovered in 2019, including a cat-eyed fish, brightly coloured reptiles and odd-looking insects.
The new batch of creatures 鈥� found across five continents and three oceans -- includes 17 different types of fish, 15 geckoes, six sea slugs, four eels and two lizards.
According to the research institute鈥檚 press release, the new species were discovered by scientists 鈥渧enturing into Croatian caves, diving to extreme ocean depths, and surveying savanna forests.鈥�
In the Balkan Mountains, scientists discovered 鈥渢he first鈥攁nd only鈥攕pecies in a new family of 鈥榓nt-worshipping鈥� spiders鈥� and in the ocean, others discovered colourful sea slugs masquerading as snail eggs.
A stunning new-to-science sea slug. (Terry Gosliner via the California Academy of Sciences)
Cinetomorpha baja (R. Ott via the California Academy of Sciences)
And in a phone interview with CTVNews.ca, academy chief of science Shannon Bennett highlighted a 鈥渄ramatic鈥� cat-eyed cardinalfish and the Cirrhilabrus wakanda fish.
The latter鈥檚 purple, tough scales resemble the suit of Marvel superhero Black Panther, which is made of vibranium 鈥� a fictional substance found in the equally fictional African country of Wakanda.
鈥淭hese are fascinating because they鈥檙e so dramatic-looking,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hose two really represent the wonder and awe that can inspire people.鈥�
The Cirrhilabrus wakanda, named after the fictional African country. (Luiz Rocha via the California Academy of Sciences)
Many of the new fish species were found in tropical reefs -- hotbeds of biodiversity that are currently threatened as oceans continue to warm and become more acidic due to global climate change, according to the academy.
The new species serve as a reminder of the need to be good stewards of the Earth, according to Bennett.
鈥淲ith climate change and the human footprint, (the planet is) changing at a higher rate than it鈥檚 ever changed before,鈥� she said, adding that the list also 鈥渉elps to emphasize the power of setting up marine sanctuaries in preserving unique biodiversity.鈥�
1,375 NEW SPECIES DISCOVERED SINCE 2010
This year鈥檚 list was slightly smaller than last year鈥檚, with the academy discovering 229 new species in 2018.
Bennett said the list鈥檚 number vastly fluctuates each year based on changes to the environment, scientists鈥� luck in scouring a particular region, or if they鈥檙e looking in deep oceans where many uncovered species live.
Since 2010, the academy has discovered 1,375 new species in total.
Despite the dozens of new finds this year, biodiversity scientists estimate that more than 90 per cent of Earth鈥檚 species are still unknown.
This girdled lizard is found on the second highest mountain peak in Angola. (Ishan Agarwal via California Academy of Sciences)
Ricardo Pacifico, a PhD student and visiting botany researcher at the academy, helped discover a rare white-blossomed plant and said new species help highlight lesser-known traits groups can have.
He explained changes to the environment spur plants to actually migrate. 鈥淧eople don鈥檛 think plants move, but they do,鈥� he said.
He travelled to the canyons of Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park in Brazil to find his new species, Trembleya altoparaisensis.
And in light of the newly discovered species such as the Dipturus lamillai -- a type of deep-sea, cartilaginous ray-like fish in the Falkland Islands 鈥� the research institute鈥檚 advised some fisheries may even need to reevaluate their practices to ensure they're not overfishing.
