TOP 10 NEW SPECIES OF 2011 OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED

These are the top 10 new species discovered in 2011 and announced on 23 May 2012 by the International Institute for Species Exploration, Arizona State University, USA. And it included one found in Sarawak, Malaysia.

Blue tarantula, walking cactus, and a worm from Hell: The top 10 new species of 2011
By Jeremy Hance, Mongabay.com, 23 May 2012.

A sneezing monkey, a blue tarantula, and an extinct walking cactus are just three of the remarkable new species listed in the annual Top Ten New Species put together by the International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University. This year's list [for 2011] includes a wide-variety of life forms from fungi to flower and invertebrate to primate.

"The top 10 is intended to bring attention to the biodiversity crisis and the unsung species explorers and museums who continue a 250-year tradition of discovering and describing the millions of kinds of plants, animals and microbes with whom we share this planet," explains Quentin Wheeler, an entomologist who directs the International Institute for Species Exploration.

The list is released every year on May 23rd to commemorate Carolus Linnaeus, the father of taxonomy.

1. Rhinopithecus Strykeri - Myanmar Snub-Nosed Sneezing Monkey

This mysterious primate (seen here in a reconstruction) not only made headlines last year, but continues to do so as a population of the believed to be critically endangered species was recently found in China. The new monkey, the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri), was discovered by way of a carcass killed by a local hunter. Since then camera trap photos and video have been taken of the species.

Source: YouTube

They are reportedly easy to hunt as locals say their up-turned noses cause them to sneeze in the rain - hence it’s also known as the sneezing monkey. Researchers believe only a few hundred survive. (See above video.)

2. Tamoya Ohboya - Bonaire Banded Box Jellyfish

This new jellyfish was named by high school teacher Lisa Peck for what she believed divers must say when they first see the beautiful animal: 'Oh Boy', hence: Tamoya ohboya. It is also called the Bonaire banded box jelly because it was spotted near the island of Bonaire in the Caribbean.

Source: YouTube

The new jellyfish is venomous, and it has vision. (See above video.)

3. Halicephalobus Mephisto - Devil's Worm

Hell has a new member: Halicephalobus mephisto. This super tiny (0.5 millimetre) nematode was discovered nearly a mile (1.3 kilometres) beneath the Earth's surface in a South African gold mine. Named after Mephistopheles, the demon character in Faust, the species has adapted to incredible underground pressures and had not had contact with the atmosphere for up to 6,000 years. This is a photo of the face of the nematode taken under scanning electron microscope.

4. Bulbophyllum Nocturnum - Night-Blooming Orchid

This is the world's only known night-blooming orchid. Discovered in Papua New Guinea, this orchid open from 10 pm to early morning. It is named Bulbophyllum nocturnum, which means "at night".

5. Kollasmosoma Sentum - Parasitic Wasp

This tiny wasp dive bombs ants from above, laying its eggs on the unsuspecting ants in less than 1/20 of a second even though the ants are giants to it.

Source: YouTube

Named Kollasmosoma sentum, it was discovered in Madrid, Spain. (See above video.)

6. Spongiforma Squarepantsii - SpongBob Squarepants Mushroom

Named after the popular kids cartoon character this fungi is called the SpongBob Squarepants mushroom (Spongiforma squarepantsii). Discovered in the forests of Sarawak, Malaysia, this mushroom resembles the sea sponge and, when squeezed, will spring back to its original form.

7. Meconopsis Autumnalis - Nepalese Autumn Poppy

This high-living poppy probably went unnoticed by scientists for so long because it lives above 3,290 meters (10,800 feet) in the wilds of Nepal. It is named Meconopsis autumnalis, because it flowers in the autumn.

8. Crurifarcimen Vagans - Wandering Leg Sausage

If you want to picture this species in real life: think of a sausage. Named the "wandering leg sausage" (Crurifarcimen vagans), this is now the world's largest millipede. Discovered in the species-rich Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania, the new millipede is 16 centimetres (over six inches) long.

9. Diania Cactiformis - Walking Cactus

Belonging to an extinct group of little-known animals called the Lobopodia, this fossil species was given the name walking cactus (Diania cactiformis) for its resemblance to imagined trotting cacti. Discovered in China, the species was alive during the Cambrian, an incredible 520 million years ago.

10. Pterinopelma Sazimai – Sazima's Blue Tarantula

Amazingly this is the first new species from Brazil to make this list. Sazima's tarantula (Pterinopelma sazimai), which is stunningly blue, is found on a single flattop mountain in the mega-biodiverse country.

Top image: Source

[Source: Mongabay.com. Edited. Top image and some links added.]

Further References:
1. Colourful Characters: Top 10 Species of 2012 [2011]
2. Top 10 new species from 2011 officially announced. There is a spider (it's blue!)