Australia Recognizes 750 New Species, Including Laughing Frog

September 9, 2024

Australia’s National Species List has been updated with 750 newly recognized species, reflecting the country’s rich biodiversity. Some notable new additions include a frog that sounds like it’s laughing, a marine worm named after Sir David Attenborough, and a spider inspired by Tom Hardy’s character, Venom.

Key Discoveries

Western Laughing Tree Frog (Litoria ridibunda): This frog is special because it makes a laughing sound instead of the usual croak that frogs are known for.

David Attenborough Worm (Marphysa davidattenboroughi): A colorful, glowing marine worm that has been named in honor of Sir David Attenborough, the famous nature documentary host.

Cracking-Clay Pilbara Planigale (Planigale tealei): This tiny marsupial, which looks a bit like a shrew, has adapted to live in the clay habitats of the Pilbara region.

What is Taxonomy?

Taxonomy is the science of classifying and naming organisms. Taxonomists study an animal or plant’s physical traits, behavior, and genetics to decide if it is a new species. In Australia, 70% of native species are still unnamed, which means there is a lot of work left to do in discovering and understanding the wildlife.

Australia’s Unique Biodiversity

Australia is known for its incredible biodiversity. It is home to over 150,000 native species, many of which are not found anywhere else in the world. However, only about two new species are officially named each day because there is still so much unexplored wildlife.

Working with Indigenous communities is important for learning more about Australia’s wildlife. Indigenous people have a deep understanding of the land and its animals, and their knowledge can help scientists discover new species that Western science has not yet studied.

The Australian Biological Resources Study provides funding to help scientists find and describe new species. In the 2024-25 period, $2 million will be distributed across 14 projects. These projects will focus on identifying species like frogs and orb-weaving spiders.

Invertebrates and Plants

Most of the newly recognized species are invertebrates (animals without backbones, like insects and worms), but new plants are also being discovered. One example is the Eremophila saxatilis, a flowering shrub that helps deepen our understanding of Australia’s plant life.

Taxonomic research and wildlife surveys will continue to reveal more of Australia’s hidden biodiversity. Using advanced techniques and involving the public in citizen science projects will help uncover even more unique species in the future.

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