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White microbial mats underwater indicate seeping methane. Credit: Andrew Thurber, CC BY-ND
Many assume that finding new species requires journeys to distant lands aboard old vessels, followed by treks through jungles to spot unknown plants or animals. The explorer then returns samples to a museum for study, naming, and classification.
This image holds some accuracy. From 1854 to 1862, Alfred Russel Wallace explored the Malay Archipelago and identified creatures unfamiliar to Western science, contributing to the theory of evolution by natural selection alongside Charles Darwin.
Antarctica saw similar exploration. In 1840, a French team observed what became known as Adélie penguins, unusual black-and-white birds moving across ice and diving into cold waters.
Of course, the term discovery carries weight. Many species noted by Western researchers were already familiar to local and Indigenous groups. The shift involved their inclusion in the formal scientific classification system used worldwide.
Today, researchers continue to identify new organisms in isolated areas and through genetic analysis of known animals.
Scientists still explore unknown worlds
Researchers locate species by investigating remote sites and studying local ecosystems. Last year, a team aboard the R/V Falkor (too) examined methane seeps on the seafloor in Antarctica’s Weddell Sea. These sites support unique life forms sustained by chemical energy rather than sunlight. New microbial varieties have been noted at the first known active seep there.
Other remote areas include Papua New Guinea’s Southern Fold Mountains, where camera traps recorded a ground bird in limestone forests. It was named a new species, the hooded jewel-babbler, in 2025.
Yet another form of discovery exists.
Hidden species in familiar animals
Some species remain undetected not due to location but because they resemble known ones closely. Gentoo penguins illustrate this. Though recognized by their orange bills and walk, recent studies reveal they comprise four distinct species rather than one. Genetic and physical variations were first noted in 2020 across different islands. Further genome and habitat analysis confirmed adaptations to varied Southern Ocean conditions.
Learning to see in higher resolution
Such cases are termed hidden species. They appear alike but differ in DNA, measurements, behavior, and surroundings. Discovery methods have evolved with technology. Early scientists used collected specimens like feathers and bones, which museum collections still preserve. Modern tools include full genomes, environmental models, and statistical tests to confirm independent evolution.
This detailed approach alters views of well-known animals. Giraffes, once seen as one species, show genetic signs of four. Research on Madagascar forest birds identified a new Newtonia type. The Tapanuli orangutan provides another case. This great ape from Sumatra in Indonesia was described
